PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia would not give in easily just because there were demands made by others.
Responding to questions on controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik and India’s request to have him extradited, Dr Mahathir said the government would always ensure it looked into all factors before responding to any demand.
“We do not easily follow the demands of others. We must look at all factors before we respond.
“Otherwise, someone will become a victim,” he said.
A DAP leader had recently questioned if there was a “secret deal” between the Malaysian and Indian government, after Putrajaya said it would not deport Zakir.
Dr Mahathir last week said the cleric would not be handed over to Indian authorities as he had been granted Malaysian permanent resident status.
The prime minister said Zakir, who left India in 2016, would be allowed to stay in the country as long as he was not creating any problem.
However, the decision did not sit well with several groups, who insisted the government return Zakir to India following his alleged tendecies to make racial and religiously insensitive statements.
It was reported that India had made a formal extradition request for Zakir to be returned to the country after accusing him of inciting youngsters to commit terror activities through his hate speeches.
However, Zakir has accused the media in India of subjecting him to a campaign of vilification over the past two years.
He has also pledged to expose fake news about him soon.