KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim asked MIC and Hindraf today not to "interfere" in religious matters after the latter non-government organisation lodged a police report over an anticipated lecture series in Malaysia by Mumbai-based Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik.

The minister in the Prime Minister's Department also called Zakir a "special human being" and said that it would "unfortunate" not to hear what he has to say.

"This is a religious matter, there is no need to interfere," he told a press conference at his office here, shortly after chairing a meeting with the organisers of the talk.

Earlier today, Shahidan said that the authorities gave the greenlight for the talk after a couple of days of uncertainty following objections by MIC, Hindraf and several Indian NGOs.

The India-born preacher is alleged to have insulted Hindus during a previous talk, and is popular for conducting talks by comparing religions.

Shahidan said that Dr Zakir's talks does not involve other parties and only addresses issues pertaining to Islam.

"He is doing good things. I hope people don't dispute that, don't call him unsavoury words," he said.

"There is no problem is giving a talk about Islam," he added.

Dr Zakir is scheduled to give a talk at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium this Saturday followed by another talk at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia in Malacca on Sunday.