Malaysia remains firm on its stance regarding the extradition of Islamic preacher and orator Dr. Zakir Naik to India. The country’s Home Minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, has clearly stated that no commitment has been made to hand him over to New Delhi.
According to a report by the *New Straits Times*, this decision was made after considering Article 6 of the 2010 Extradition Treaty and the Extradition Act 1992. In a written response to Parliament, the Home Minister stated that the Malaysian government has a decision in place not to extradite Zakir Naik, and they have not received any new formal extradition request.
The Home Minister provided this information in response to a question from Member of Parliament Datuk Dr. Ahmad Marzuk Shaary. He also clarified when India’s last formal request was received and whether the evidence provided by India met the requirements of Malaysian law and bilateral treaty conditions.
India first formally requested Zakir Naik’s extradition on January 19, 2018. Later, on May 29, 2020, New Delhi sent a diplomatic note urging a review of the previous decision.
Opposition leaders demanded an explanation following media reports that the issue was discussed during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last September. PAS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan sought to know what was discussed between the two prime ministers and whether any agreement had been reached. He also demanded clarification on whether the evidence provided by India fulfilled the conditions of Malaysia’s extradition laws.
India seeks Zakir Naik’s return on charges of money laundering and hate speech. However, it is believed that there are differences between India’s stance on these allegations and Malaysia’s legal procedure.
The Home Minister’s latest statement once again makes it clear that the Malaysian government has made no commitment to hand Zakir Naik over to India.
