KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 ― Mumbai-based televangelist Dr Zakir Naik has revealed that the Peace TV Islamic network launched by him is planning to broadcast in Malay here, and may even collaborate with a local broadcaster.

Dr Zakir, described as “the ideologue and driving force” behind the Dubai-based network, said it started broadcasting in English 10 years ago and currently broadcasts through 14 satellite channels ― which he said outstrips other Islamic networks that only have up to four satellite channels.

“We have already planned to produce programmes in 10 languages. In the near future, we are making arrangements to produce in Mandarin.

“For your information we are also planning to do it in Malay. We may also form a partnership with a television broadcasting company in this country to expand Peace TV,” he said in an interview published by local daily Utusan Malaysia’s weekend edition Mingguan Malaysia.

Dr Zakir did not name the Malaysian broadcaster that Peace TV intends to collaborate with.

State-owned Islamic network TV Alhijrah announced last week that it will show the Tonight With Zakir Naik talk show produced by Peace TV on Wednesday nights.

The controversial preacher said Muslims were lagging in the use of the media to correct the misunderstandings purportedly spread by the international media, citing as example the alleged painting of Islam as a religion of terror.

The Peace TV channel, which features Dr Zakir as one of its speakers, was reportedly banned in his home country in 2012.

India’s intelligence unit had in 2012 reportedly red-flagged Peace TV among 24 foreign channels for allegedly broadcasting anti-India programmes “not conducive to the security environment in the country”, but Riyadh-based media outfit Arab News had in 2014 said that Dr Zakir has denied the accusation.

Dr Zakir’s recent one-week tour in Malaysia on the invitation of the Terengganu state government has also caused furore among several Hindu and Indian groups, which claimed the preacher regularly insults Hinduism in his lectures.