Shillong: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that officials discussed the extradition of fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Ibrahim met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning to address the matter. The talks remained behind closed doors.
"In private discussions, of course, these engagements continue," Ibrahim told NDTV. He stated that the extradition request sits on the priority list for building trust between the two nations. However, he stressed the need for caution while upholding the rule of law.
India wants Naik on charges of money laundering and hate speech. Investigations into his network, including Peace TV and the Islamic Research Foundation, began in 2016. Naik fled to Malaysia that same year and currently holds permanent resident status. India has already submitted a formal extradition request. Malaysia says it will use established legal channels to cooperate.
Separately, Ibrahim addressed comments from Kerala-based cleric Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliar regarding women in the public sphere. The Malaysian leader, scheduled to meet the cleric in Kozhikode on Sunday, rejected the idea that women should stay home. He plans to tell the cleric that Malaysia guarantees equal rights. He cited high female enrollment in Malaysian universities and his own family life to prove the point.
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