Hindraf: Did previous home minister intervene over Zakir Naik PR?
(FMT) – Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy slams ‘easy’ path for controversial Islamic preacher, while 300,000 stateless Indians here ‘languish in a pit hole’.
Hindraf wants to know if the previous home minister exempted Islamic preacher Zakir Naik from the criteria governing the issuance of permanent resident (PR) status in Malaysia.
In a statement today, its chairman P Waythamoorthy referred to the criteria listed on the immigration website.
According to the website, he said, any foreign national intending to enter and reside in Malaysia as a permanent resident should apply for an entry permit in accordance with Section 10 of the Immigration Act and Regulation 4 of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
“There must be clarity on what basis Zakir had obtained his PR.
“Is it as an individual with minimum deposit of US$2 million, an expert or a professional?” he asked, adding that the authorities who had verified Naik’s credentials must also be brought to light.
“Unless alternatively, the previous home minister had decided to invoke Section 55 of the Immigration Act with the power to exempt. If so, is there a gazette to support it as required, and what is its basis?”