KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who has been among the most vocal critics of the KK Mart convenience store chain, has vehemently condemned the incident involving a Molotov cocktail thrown at one of its outlets yesterday.
On Facebook, Akmal expressed gratitude to the police for taking swift action against the company’s executives, which led to their being charged in court yesterday.
He also commended the police for the arrest made in connection with a death threat against him, emphasising the importance of upholding the rule of law amid the ongoing controversy.
“We also strongly condemn the extreme incident of throwing petrol bombs at KK Mart and the death threats against me,” he said in a post.
“Despite being threatened with death, my position and that of all Malaysian Muslims will not budge, we will continue this #boycottkkmart campaign so that it serves as a harsh lesson to all not to disparage Islam on this earth.”
“I want to say a million thanks to the police and all the parties involved until they were charged in court yesterday. We respect the legal process and expect it to be carried out in accordance with its rules, but at the same time, this KK Mart boycott campaign needs to continue so that it provides a great lesson to them and any party who wants to insult Islam in the future.”
The condemnation comes in the wake of a molotov cocktail attack on a KK Mart store in Bidor, Perak, in which a suspect allegedly hurled an incendiary device into the premises, causing damage to the establishment.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri confirmed that investigations are underway, with the incident being treated as a case of mischief under Section 427 of the Penal Code.
The boycott campaign against KK Mart was sparked by outrage within the Muslim community over the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah,” leading to calls for a boycott and resulting in legal actions against the store’s management.
KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan and his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, were recently charged in court for intentionally hurting religious sentiments, while their supplier, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, faces a civil suit.
In a separate incident, police arrested an elderly man for allegedly making a death threat against Akmal. Melaka Tengah district police chief Christopher Patit confirmed the arrest, saying that the suspect was apprehended following a report from a concerned individual who overheard the threatening remarks. – March 27, 2024