Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Confirms Zakir Naik Extradition Talks With India
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that Zakir Naik's extradition was discussed privately with India, stressing Malaysia will act cautiously and respect the rule of law.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that the extradition of fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was raised during his discussions in New Delhi, where he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Anwar said the matter was taken up in private talks. He said the two sides chose to keep the discussions confidential in order to protect the interests of both nations, while placing the issue on the priority list for building trust and strengthening bilateral ties.
On the question of extradition, Anwar said Malaysia has some understanding of the demand but must proceed with caution. He emphasised that the country respects the rule of law and values the importance of its bilateral relations with India.
Naik, a controversial Islamic preacher, has been living in Malaysia as a permanent resident since 2016, when Indian authorities began investigating him and his network, including the Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV. He remains a wanted fugitive in India on charges of money laundering and hate speech.
India has formally sought his extradition, but Malaysia has said it will cooperate only through established legal channels and if concrete and credible evidence is provided. Interpol has previously declined to issue a Red Notice against him, citing insufficient evidence.
Naik's presence in Malaysia has also been a source of domestic friction. In 2019, he faced widespread public and political backlash over racially sensitive remarks concerning ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. He later apologised to Malaysians, and authorities briefly barred him from public speaking in several states.