High Court axes case against Zakir Naik
KUALA LUMPUR: An application by activist group Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) to declare controversial Indian preacher Dr Zakir Naik ( pix) as a threat to national security was dismissed by the High Court yesterday.
Justice Datin Azizah Nawawi ruled that Hindraf had erred in failing to name Zakir as a party in the action. As a person who would be impacted by this proceeding, he should have been named a party for the court to hear from him.
“This was the reason the application was thrown out,” said lawyer Adnan Seman, who represented Malay rights group Perkasa as an intervener.
The court also awarded costs of RM5,000 to the defendants.
Hindraf president P. Waythamoorthy and 18 activists had sought to declare Zakir a threat to Malaysia’s safety and therefore should not be granted permanent resident status by the Home Ministry.
The activists included Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, lawyer Siti Kassim and Centre for Policy Initiatives director Lim Teck Ghee.
Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who was present in court, expressed hope that with the ruling, Zakir will be able to move about freely and give sermons and lectures.
Lawyer Karthigesan Shanmugam, who represented Waythamoorthy and the 18 other activists, said they would appeal. The five defendants were the government, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Immigration director-general, National Registration Department and the inspector-general of police.