Malaysia says Modi did not talk of Zakir’s extradition, India rejects claim

Naik, a 53-year-old radical television preacher, left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to the largely Muslim Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency. 

Mahathir said that Modi, whom he met in Russia during an economic forum earlier this month, made no extradition request for the controversial Islamic televangelist despite official notice from New Delhi. In a media briefing on Tuesday in New Delhi, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said Naik’s extradition issue had indeed come up during Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with Malaysian counterpart in Vladivostok. Jaishankar said India has already placed a request with Malaysia for Naik’s extradition in January.  

Briefing reporters on Prime Minister’s bilateral meeting with Mahathir on September 5, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had said that Modi raised the issue of Naik’s extradition. “Not many countries want him. I met with Modi. He didn’t ask me for this man,” Mahathir told Malaysian radio station BFM 89.9 when asked about Naik’s extradition. He also said that Malaysia was looking for a place to send Zakir who has made racially sensitive comments against Hindu and Chinese Malaysians recently. The Prime Minister then reaffirmed that Zakir will no longer be allowed to publicly speak in Malaysia following his racially divisive remarks. Naik is wanted by Indian authorities since 2016 for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches.