New Delhi, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that discussions regarding the extradition of fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik took place during the 18th BRICS summit held in New Delhi. In an exclusive interview with NDTV following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ibrahim stated that the issue was raised in private discussions. He emphasized that both countries aim to protect their interests while maintaining confidentiality.
Ibrahim acknowledged Malaysia’s understanding of India’s extradition request but stressed the need for caution. “We must respect the rule of law and the significance of bilateral relations between our nations,” he noted.
Zakir Naik is currently under investigation in India for multiple charges, including hate speech and money laundering. He left India for Malaysia in 2016 after Indian agencies initiated inquiries into him and his organizations, including the Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV. He later obtained permanent residency in Malaysia.
India has sent a formal extradition request to Malaysia, which has stated its commitment to cooperate under established legal procedures.
During the interview, Ibrahim also addressed recent controversial remarks by Islamic cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Abubakar Musaliyar from Kerala. He expressed disagreement with Musaliyar’s views on restricting women’s roles to the home and their lack of participation in public life. Ibrahim is set to meet Musaliyar in Kozhikode and plans to convey that women in Malaysia enjoy equal rights. He highlighted that female enrollment in Malaysian universities is high and mentioned that his wife is a doctor. He affirmed that all his children, including his daughters, have equal opportunities for education and freedom.
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