KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor PAS chief Datuk Ab Halim Tamuri has emerged as a voice of reason, calling for calm amid rising tensions over convenience store chain KK Mart’s sale of “Allah”-printed socks.
The Paya Jeras assemblyman acknowledged that while the incident had hurt the sensitivities of Muslims, the community should bear in mind that Islam prohibits insulting other religions as it advocates peace.
“The socks issue should be looked (at) through a wider scope. In PAS, we don’t just look at the Allah issue, but on how to respect other religions as well.
“In a country that lives in harmony, you have to be careful when talking about sensitive issues. We must deal with it with knowledge and also (factor in) the judicial process,” Halim was quoted as saying by Malay Mail Online, during a breaking fast event in Kelana Jaya tonight.
He also reportedly urged politicians from adding oil to the fiery controversy for political reasons.
Police are currently tracking down a suspect believed to be involved in an incident where a molotov cocktail was thrown at a KK Mart outlet in Bidor, Perak early this morning.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said CCTV recordings of the store’s vicinity found that a driver from a dark car with a red “Lalamove” sticker had gotten out of the vehicle and thrown a glass bottle filled with kerosene into the shop.
KK Mart has been embroiled in controversy after inciting outrage in the Muslim community over its sale of “Allah”-printed socks, resulting in certain quarters calling for a boycott of the brand.
KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan had subsequently apologised profusely over the incident while the company’s supplier, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, had also expressed its regret for the oversight in its quality control process.
This morning, Chai and his wife Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui were charged in the Shah Alam sessions court for intentionally hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims.
Three Xin Jian Chang directors were also charged with abetting Chai and Loh in the distribution of the socks.
The two companies are also engaged in a separate civil lawsuit brought by KK Mart, which is claiming more than RM30 million in damages and losses caused by Xin Jian Chang’s alleged sabotage. – March 26, 2024