Zakir Naik banned from public speaking in Malaysia, grilled for 10 hours by police

New Delhi: After seven states in Malaysia banned Zakir Naik to deliver speeches in public space, the controversial Islamic preacher has now been banned from delivering his speeches anywhere in the country, Malaysian police have informed.

The move to ban Naik from delivering speeches in public space has come after authorities questioned him in the last two days over his intent to provoke a peace breach by allegedly making remarks against Hindus and Chinese residing in Muslim-majority nation.

Zakir Naik was grilled for over 10 hours by the Malaysian police during a talk in Kota Baru on August 3. His statement was recorded at Bukit Aman Police Headquarter in Malaysia. Naik was accompanied by his lawyer Akhberdin Abdul Kader.

He was questioned for the second time under Section 504 of the Penal Code of the Malaysian law for the intentional insult with an intent to provoke a breach of peace.

In a public meeting at Kota Baru in Malaysia's Kelantan, on August 3, Zakir Naik reportedly said that the Malaysian Hindus were more loyal to the Narendra Modi government in India than to their Malaysian prime minister.

Naik, who is wanted in India, was granted permanent residency in Malaysia by the previous government. He is living in the country from the last three years.

Malaysia police have confirmed the ban. The police said that the ban was imposed in the "interest of national security".

(With Inputs from DNA)