KUALA LUMPUR – Independent preacher Firdaus Wong should have lodged a police report over convenience store chain KK Mart’s sale of “Allah”-printed socks, instead of “fanning flames” on the issue online, said a Pahang DAP member.
According to former Tanah Rata assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong, Wong’s decision to publicise the matter on social media has merely stoked the ire and incited feelings of unease among Muslims.
“It’s evident that this issue (KK Mart’s sale of the controversial socks) could have been resolved properly if Wong had reported the matter to the police and let them carry out investigations as they deem fit.
“Instead, he (Wong) chose to spread the issue online…if this is not incitement, then what is it?” Chiong questioned in a video posted on his Facebook page.
Besides that, Chiong, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming’s former political secretary, declined Wong’s invitation to feature him in a podcast session.
“There’s no need. Whoever eats the chili feels the heat,” he responded.
Wong had previously issued the invite when he took aim at Chiong over the latter’s comments labelling the former as a “kaki hasut” (instigator) and “sampah masyarakat” (social embarrassment), with the preacher claiming that such comments reflect the politician’s morality.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post responding to Chiong’s criticisms, Wong said that his lawyer has a “love letter” to send to Chiong, asserting that the party man had issued unnecessary remarks.
Last week, Wong denied claims of attempting to sabotage KK Mart just because he allegedly owns a supermarket called MyKampung Fresh Mart.
“If I intended to sabotage KK Mart, why did founder Datuk Seri K.K. Chai and the manufacturer call me twice to apologise over the socks printed with the word ‘Allah’?
“MyKampung Fresh Mart which was opened in 2021 has been closed,” he told Scoop.
Earlier today, two of KK Mart’s company directors and three individuals from its former importer Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd will be charged in court tomorrow.
The charges are framed under the Penal Code, namely Section 298 on deliberately wounding religious feelings, which carries an imprisonment term of up to one year, a fine, or both for those found guilty, and Section 109 on abetment.
Tomorrow’s court case involves two individuals who were charged under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for posting insensitive social media content relating to the “Allah”-printed socks issue.
A total of 178 police reports have been lodged nationwide so far.
In a previous raid on the local importer’s premises, police found 14 pairs of the offending socks.
KK Mart has recalled and returned them to the supplier after images of the socks sold at one of the store’s outlets incited widespread ire.
Following public outrage, KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri K.K. Chai apologised profusely at a press conference last weekend.
Additionally, the store’s outlets opted to express their regret in the form of banners outside stores and messages at their counters.
Xin Jian Chang had also apologised for an oversight in its quality control process, saying it had done its best to ensure that all 18,800 socks received from its supplier in China were cleared for sale here.
Due to the heated backlash over the products, Xin Jian Chang previously said it was considering legal action against the overseas supplier for negligence. – March 25, 2024