August 25, 2019, 02:56 PM
Malaysia Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman hosted controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on Saturday evening.
This came merely days after Syed Saddiq asked for the preacher's deportation.
Photos of Syed Saddiq having dinner with Zakir were posted on Twitter and Instagram.
Tidak ada seorang pun yang bebas dari melakukan kesilapan. Dr Zakir Naik sudah minta maaf. Saya sendiri banyak kali lakukan kesilapan dan kena berlapang dada bila ditegur.
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) August 24, 2019
Tidak perlu nak mendabik dada & mengeruhkan keadaan lagi. Let’s move on. The country needs healing!
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/eTBBDDDORg
Syed Saddiq said that Malaysians must now move on instead of fixating over Zakir Naik’s controversial remarks.
Called for deportation
Malaysia’s youngest minister had previously joined the ranks of his Cabinet colleagues demanding Zakir’s deportation.
The other Cabinet colleagues included Communication and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh, Human Resource Minister M. Kulasegaran and Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister A. Xavier Jayakumar.
Syed Saddiq’s posts came after Malaysian police barred Zakir from making any speech in Malaysia, even on social media.
The fugitive preacher from India is being investigated over his remarks.
He is at risk of getting killed if he gets sent back to India, Malaysia prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has said.
Zakir is a wanted man in his home country.
Backlash
Syed Saddiq is facing some backlash for hosting the preacher to dinner.
Malaysian lawyer and Human rights activist Ambiga Sreenevasan called the first-term minister’s statement for Malaysians to “move on” after Zakir’s so-called apology as a mere capitulation.
This does not heal! Your first instincts were right. This is a capitulation by you so we don’t need the drivel about apologies etc. It’s insulting. You’re one of my favourite Ministers and this is disappointing. https://t.co/fPQGNyolJ4
— Ambiga Sreenevasan (@Ambiga_S) August 25, 2019
However, Syed Saddiq's second tweet said: "Moderation over extremism".
Previously:
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