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Citing sub judice, Siti Kassim, Asiah Abd Jalil turn down meeting with Zakir Naik Published: March 4, 2017 08:56 PM GMT+8 SHARE THIS ARTICLE
 Activists speaking to members of the media at a press conference after filing a civil suit against Dr Zakir Naik at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex March 1, 2017. — Picture by Zurairi ARKUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Two women lawyers rejected today an invitation to meet and debate in person with Dr Zakir Naik whom they are seeking to ban from Malaysia.Siti Kassim and Asiah Abd Jalil said meeting the controversial Indian Muslim televangelist now would be “sub judice” and could amount to contempt of court as they, with 17 other people, have filed a civil lawsuit to compel the Malaysian government to act against Dr Zakir. Two women lawyers with a civil suit involving Dr Zakir Naik have rejected an invitation to meet and debate in person with the controversial preacher. — Screengrab of Facebook page of Fathul Bari Mat Jahya “This case is now officially an ongoing court case. It is sub judice and even would amount to contempt of court if Dr Zakir Naik, the subject matter of this civil suit, challenges any of the Plaintiffs for a debate. “Let the court decide, whether Dr Zakir Naik deserves to be on Malaysian soil and granted permanent resident status,” Siti and Asiah said in a joint statement. Both lawyers were responding to an offer by Umno Youth leader Datuk Fathul Bari Mat Jahya who was trying to arrange their meeting with the target of their criticism. The Umno Youth executive council member said Dr Zakir had expressed a willingness to meet the two women and had posted a screenshot of his text conversation with Dr Zakir on his Facebook page last night to support his remark.
“If you think it will be fruitful & their niyyah is good I would not mind meeting them,” Dr Zakir replied to Fathul Bari, using the Arabic word for intention. Siti and Asiah together with 17 others filed a civil suit against the Malaysian government at the High Court on March 1. In their suit, the 19 plaintiffs of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds said Dr Zakir is an “undesirable person” and “a preacher of hate” who is currently moving freely in Malaysia. They are seeking a government declaration that Dr Zakir is a threat to national security, and want the Indian national arrested, deported and banned from entering Malaysia in future. Among the prominent public figures who filed the suit are P Waytha Moorthy chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force; academic Lim Teck Ghee; Sabah lawmaker Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan; and Sarawak activist Peter John Jaban. The four defendants named in the suit were Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Immigration Department director-general, the National Registration Department director-general, and the Government of Malaysia. Dr Zakir has been banned from several countries such as Bangladesh, Canada and the UK. Several Indian dailies reported last year that Dr Zakir is wanted in India and that his Islamic Research Foundation has been banned by the Indian government. However, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the controversial Islamic preacher is free to travel in Malaysia because he is not on any security watch list here. - See more at: http://m.themalaymailonline.com/ ... thash.AS25xdeI.dpuf
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Post time 7-3-2017 07:59 AM
