KUALA LUMPUR – Controversial Indian preacher Dr Zakir Naik, who recently drew attention for remarks on converting non-Muslims at a convention in Perlis last month, was never issued a gag order in 2019, his lawyer has confirmed.
Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader clarified that the preacher was instead advised by police to refrain from discussing sensitive topics related to other religions.
“I have been advising and acting for him in all court cases from day one, (and I can say that) he has not received any formal order from the police that barred him from giving lectures,” he told Scoop when contacted.
“They (police) have advised him not to talk about sensitive religious matters and comparative religion since he used to talk about Hinduism and Christianity. That is why you have been seeing him talking about many other areas than these areas (other religions).
“But whatever it is, I have never seen a gag order – meaning a written order from the police – which tells him that he cannot talk (in public) at all.”
Akberdin pointed out that if a gag order had existed, police would have barred Zakir from speaking at the Perlis International Sunnah Convention 2025, held in Kangar from January 24 to 26.
The lawyer’s clarification comes amid speculation that a gag order was imposed on Zakir following his public speeches in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, in 2019. During those speeches, he reportedly claimed that Malaysian Indians were more loyal to the Narendra Modi government in India. He was also understood to have described the Malaysian Chinese community as “old guests” who should return to their ancestral land. Zakir later claimed his remarks had been taken out of context by the media and apologised for any misunderstandings.
Zakir, who was a guest speaker at the Perlis International Sunnah Convention 2025, had reportedly urged Malaysian Muslims to intensify efforts to spread Islam to non-Muslims.
In a video uploaded to the Dr Zakir Naik Answers YouTube channel on January 29, Zakir claimed that Malaysians were not fully utilising laws that permit the propagation of Islam to non-Muslims. He warned that local Muslims would have to answer in the afterlife for their perceived lack of proselytising efforts.
Commenting on his client’s remarks, Akberdin said Zakir was merely referencing existing laws that allow Muslims to propagate Islam to non-Muslims, while prohibiting the reverse. – February 5, 2025