“Not many countries want him. I met Prime Minister Modi, he didn't ask me for him. This man could also be troublesome for India," said Mahathir Mohammad when asked if there is a proposition to return Naik to India, during an interview with BFM's ‘The Breakfast Grille’.
"Zakir Naik isn't a national of this country, he was given permanent status by previous govt. Permanent resident isn't supposed to make comments on country's system or politics, he breached that, so now he isn't allowed to speak,” he said in the interview.
“We are trying to find some place he can go to but at the moment, no one wants to accept him,” he said.
His statement comes weeks after Prime Minister Modi met him in Russia at the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum meet.
Naik is wanted in India in cases of financial irregularities and hate speech.
Naik, who was granted permanent residency in Malaysia after he fled India on being charged with giving inflammatory speeches, has been barred from holding religious talks in several Malaysian states.
Naik, who has been living in Malaysia for the last three years, is in the limelight for his remarks against non-Muslim minorities, especially the Chinese and Hindus in Malaysia.
Seven states - Melaka, Johor, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Sarawak - have decided to bar the controversial preacher from speaking in public.