Kula Lumpur, Jan 3 (UNI) The Malaysian government has sought an application in the High Court seeking cancellation of controversial preacher and televangelist from India Zakir Naik’s permanent residence status in the country be struck out.
The application was filed by Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia chairperson P Waythamoorthy and 16 other citizens saying that Naik is a threat to Malaysia's safety and therefore should not be granted permanent resident status.
The National Investigative Agency in October last year filed a charge sheet in a special court in Mumbai against Naik for allegedly inciting youth to take up terror activities, giving hate speeches and promoting enmity between communities.
Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan and Shamsul Bolhassan questioned the legal standing of the 17 people and said that since Naik was not named as a defendant in the action, the declaration sought by the group could not be granted, reports news portal Malaysiakini.
Saying that the 17 applicants should have filed for a judicial review, the two counsel noted that the applicants had failed to show how the decisions made by the defendants - who were the Home Minister, the Immigration Department, the inspector-general of police and the National Registration Department - had affected their rights.
The petitioners' lawyer R. Kengadhran said the government had argued that his clients had no locus standi or legal standing to file the lawsuit.
“What we are saying is all plaintiffs have locus standi. Why? It is a public interest matter of grave concern, so therefore they have locus standi to initiate this action,” Malay Mail quoted him as saying.
The newspaper also quoted Adnan Seman, lawyer for Muslim rights group Perkasa which intervened in the lawsuit, said he had argued that Naik should have been made a party to the case in order to answer the claims made against him.
“The government also submitted the same arguments that Zakir Naik should be made party to the proceedings. And because Zakir Naik is not made a party, this application should be rejected and dismissed,” he told reporters after a hearing in chambers before High Court judge Datin Azizah Nawawi.
UNI SRJ