COMMENT | One thing is clear. The more vociferous civil society and others go against controversial preacher Zakir Naik, the fiercer Dr Mahathir Mohamad emerges to defend him.

I have one question for the prime minister. Tell us, what is so special about Zakir Naik? There must be something unique about him, some unknown qualities lacking in our local preachers that Zakir possesses, so much so that our prime minister sees it fit to be on his side all the time.

It seems that none of Zakir’s critics and detractors, including those in Pakatan Harapan, are able to sway Mahathir’s protection of the Islamic cleric.

In the latest Zakir episode, DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh was the first Harapan leader to disagree with Mahathir’s stand, stating that the prime minister has been “misconceived”.

On Monday, the prime minister likened the status of the controversial preacher to Malaysia's request to Australia to extradite Sirul Azhar Umar (below), who was convicted of murder...