Malaysia has lifted the ban on Indian Islamic scholar and speaker Dr. Zakir Naik from delivering public speeches. The restriction, imposed temporarily in 2019, is no longer in effect, according to Malaysian media.

During a parliamentary session, a member of parliament questioned the Home Minister about whether the ban on Naik was still in place. In response, the minister confirmed that the restriction was temporary and has since been lifted.

Al Jazeera reports that Zakir Naik remains on India’s wanted list over allegations of money laundering and promoting hate speech. In 2019, Malaysia took a stance against him after his controversial remarks about Malaysian Hindus and Chinese communities sparked outrage.

The Malaysian government has proposed making the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) mandatory for foreign workers while reducing their contribution rate from 12% to just 2%. This has sparked serious concerns regarding the financial security and social protection of migrant workers. Glorene Das, Executive Director of Tenaganita, criticized the move, stating that it would further marginalize foreign workers, who are already subject to systemic discrimination despite their significant contributions to the local economy. She added that migrant workers still lack equal protections compared to Malaysians. The proposed changes indicate that foreign laborers are being treated as mere commodities for economic gain rather than as integral contributors to Malaysia’s growth.

Malaysia has made history by recognizing cryptocurrency as eligible for zakat, the obligatory Islamic charity. The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council announced the decision to align zakat practices with the digital era. Cryptocurrency, a rapidly growing sector in Malaysia, involves 54.2% of the country’s investors, mostly aged 18–34, holding assets worth 16 billion ringgit. Officials see this as a potential new zakat source, particularly for young Muslims. The move reflects Malaysia’s effort to adapt Islamic finance to modern economic trends.