KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Under the world’s microscope for allegedly inspiring terrorism, Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik has admitted that a video clip of his speech purportedly exhorting "every Muslim to be a terrorist” was not altered.

In a telephone interview with India Today, the Mumbai-based televangelist insisted that the only tampered segment was of his purported support for Osama Bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terror group.

"No, no, every Muslim to be a terrorist is not doctored. The one talking about Osama… that is doctored clip,” he was heard saying in the recording uploaded by the Indian broadcaster on its Facebook page yesterday.

Detractors have criticised Dr Zakir, claiming videos of the 2006 speech show his support for the mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre in the US that killed almost 3,000 people.

Dr Zakir has denied al-Qaeda’s role in the 9/11 attacks and claimed they were orchestrated by the US government.

However, Dr Zakir told India Today that the video clip that has gone viral worldwide since only showed "half” the story and did not provide the full context of his speech.

"These are my words but it is out of context. It is half. The full context of it I was giving an example,” he said.

The Islamic Research Foundation president, who has 14 million followers on Facebook and 200 million viewers of his Peace TV channel, also asserted that he is not banned in Malaysia contrary to reports in his home country.

The Indian citizen boasted that he has "very good” ties with the Malaysian government and had been conferred high honours.

"I've got the highest award of Malaysia given by the King of Malaysia and the prime minister that is the Tokoh Maal Hijrah award,” he said, referring to the government’s 2013 prestigious award to him in recognition of his contributions to Islam.

Dr Zakir was welcomed by the Malaysian government in April this year and held a series of sermons nationwide. He was also praised by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as a "very wise man” and was reportedly gifted three islands in Lake Kenyir from the Terengganu government.

Authorities in India and Bangladesh are investigating Dr Zakir after news reports emerged that Rohan Imtiaz and Nibras Islam, two of the five gunmen who attacked a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 1 were inspired by the salafist preacher.

The head of the Hyderabad chapter of global terror group Islamic State, Mohammad Ibrahim Yazdani, has also attributed Dr Zakir’s teachings as the basis for his venture into militancy.

Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told Malay Mail Online last night that he will review the Muslim cleric’s sermons and speeches made in India and Bangladesh before deciding whether or not police action is required.