The ban preventing controversial preacher Zakir Naik from delivering public lectures is no longer in place, according to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Saifuddin clarified that the restriction was imposed in 2019 while Naik was under police investigation.
“When investigations began in 2019, he was banned from delivering any ceramah during that period,” he said. “I have reviewed the matter, and the ban is no longer in effect, as it was only imposed pending investigations into two of his speeches.”
His statement was in response to Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, who questioned whether the police had lifted the nationwide ban, noting that Naik had recently spoken at a religious event in Perlis.
The 2019 ban was introduced after Naik allegedly made controversial remarks about Malaysia’s Hindu and Chinese communities during a lecture in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on 3 August of that year.