Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.
Credit: PTI file photo
New Delhi: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday indicated that his government may consider India's request to extradite controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik if it provides evidence against him.
At an interactive session at the Indian Council of World Affairs here, Ibrahim also said that the issue shouldn't deter the two countries from enhancing bilateral relations.
To a specific question, he said the issue was not raised by the Indian side during Tuesday's talks.
Naik is wanted by the Indian authorities for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches. He left India in 2016.
The Islamic preacher was granted permanent residency in Malaysia by the previous government led by Mahathir Mohamed.
"Firstly, it was not raised by the (Indian side), Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) did raise it much earlier, some years back...But the issue is I am not talking about one person, I am talking about the sentiment of extremism, of a compelling case and evidence that suggest the atrocities committed by an individual or group or faction or parties," Ibrahim said.
The Malaysian prime minister said his government is "open to any ideas and evidence submitted".
"We will not condone terrorism...We have been tough and we have been working together with India on many of these issues, against terrorism. But I don't think this one case should deter us from further collaboration and enhancing our bilateral cooperation," he said.
The Malaysian prime minister began his three-day visit to India last night in his first trip to the country after becoming the prime minister in 2022.
Ibrahim also criticised Israel's military actions in Gaza and described the overall situation as the "sheer hypocrisy" of the West.
"The atrocities of Israeli forces in Gaza that's real, killing 40,000 people. That is an atrocity," he said.
"We must give a very clear message that this hypocrisy must end. You can't talk about genocide in Ukraine because of the bombing of some villages, and 40,000 people killed (in Gaza as) the impact of war and you can condone that," he said in response to a question.
"This is shocking and I call it sheer hypocrisy. It is long-standing but it has to end," he said.
"It doesn't matter whether the victims are Muslims or Christians or Hindus or Buddhists or whatever. They are human beings and in this age for us (to say) that 'I am sorry, nothing can be done', is atrocious," he said.