No more ban on Dr. Zakir Naik's public speaking in Malaysia

The ban imposed on Dr. Zakir Naik in 2019, which restricted the controversial preacher from delivering public talks, is no longer in effect, says Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.  Reported several media outlets in Malaysia, including Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail and The Star Online.

“The ban was in place in 2019 while investigations into the two statements he had made were underway,” he said during his winding-up speech on the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday(Feb 20).

“I have checked, and there are currently no restrictions," he added.

He was responding to a question from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) regarding whether the ban had been lifted, as Naik had recently given a talk in Perlis.

The police had imposed a ban on Naik in 2019, barring him from giving talks for national security and to preserve racial harmony.

However, two years later, Naik reportedly said the police had never conveyed the message to him.