Zakir Naik extradition issue discussed with India, confirms Malaysian PM

New Delhi: The extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was discussed during talks between India and Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed.

In an interview with NDTV, Ibrahim said the issue was raised during private discussions in New Delhi, where he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

“In private discussions, of course, these engagements continue,” Ibrahim said.

He added that both sides had decided to keep the matter confidential to protect the interests of India and Malaysia, while placing it among the priority issues in efforts to build trust and strengthen bilateral relations.

On India’s extradition request, Ibrahim said Malaysia would have to proceed cautiously and in accordance with the law.

“We have some understanding of it (the extradition demand), but we need to do it very cautiously,” he said, stressing the importance of respecting the rule of law and preserving bilateral ties.

Naik, who is wanted in India in connection with money laundering and hate speech cases, has been living in Malaysia as a permanent resident.

He moved to Malaysia in 2016 after Indian authorities began investigations into him and organisations linked to him, including the Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV. He was later granted permanent residency by Malaysia.

India has formally sought his extradition. Malaysia, however, has maintained that it would cooperate through established legal procedures if India provides concrete and credible evidence.

Interpol had earlier declined to issue a Red Notice against Naik, citing insufficient evidence.

Naik has also faced criticism in Malaysia. In 2019, he came under widespread political and public backlash over remarks concerning the country’s ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

He later apologised to Malaysians, following which authorities in several Malaysian states temporarily barred him from delivering public speeches.