This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 8, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has denied claims that the Malaysian government has rewarded controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik with land and a slot on Malaysia’s national broadcaster for his Peace TV channel.

“We would like to clarify that these allegations are baseless,” it said in a statement yesterday.

The PMO said the matter was brought to its attention through various social media outlets of a report by an Indian-based television channel alleging that Putrajaya has honoured Zakir with such rewards.

Zakir has been seeking refuge in Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residence by the Barisan Nasional government in 2012.

 He is wanted in his home country on charges of money laundering and hate speech. The authorities there said he has been “promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India through public speeches and lectures”.

 Last week, Mumbai-based The Times of India reported that the country’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has charged Zakir with laundering criminal money worth 193 crore rupees (RM115 million) and buying illegal real estate assets across the world.

The ED accused the preacher of using funds from “dubious or suspicious sources” to buy property and finance events where he made “inflammatory speeches and lectures” that have allegedly “inspired and incited Muslim youths in India to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts”.