KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has taunted political ally DAP, questioning whether it will stand by Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri, a celebrity entrepreneur who is facing backlash for his controversial Raya video.
“I want to ask DAP, especially Anthony Loke. Now that we have boycotted Aliff Syukri for disregarding the sensitivity of Muslims, is DAP going to keep quiet? he asked in a brief Facebook post today.
Akmal also asked if DAP is going to launch the same level of support for Alif or just keep mum.
Don’t you want to back up Alif Syukri too? Or you just back up your own gang (your own people),” he asked.
Previously, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke conveyed concerns about Akmal’s strident calls for a boycott against convenience store chain KK Mart to party leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Loke had reportedly told Zahid of these concerns during a breaking of fast ceremony at Istana Negara, stating that he did not agree with Akmal’s approach, as KK Mart had apologised and admitted its mistake.
Though Umno and DAP are allies in the unity government, Akmal has brushed off advice to tone down his rhetoric, doubling down instead by saying he would push harder for a boycott the more he was told to stop.
On March 13, the issue of the word “Allah” being printed on socks sold at KK Mart in Bandar Sunway went viral on social media after users uploaded photos of the product.
KK Super Mart & Superstore Sdn Bhd (KK Super Mart) reportedly apologised for selling socks with the word “Allah” at several of its convenience store branches.
Others who have told Akmal to pipe down include Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who accused the Umno Youth chief of using the issue for his personal agenda.
DAP’s Bandar Kuching MP, Dr Kelvin Yii, has also said a boycott would be unproductive and hurt the local economy, urging other politicians to practice “mature politics” over the issue.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has also tried to quell tempers, saying the authorities should be trusted to investigate the matter.
Yesterday, after calling for a nationwide boycott of the KK Mart convenience store chain, Akmal has now called to reject Aliff’s latest music video teaser released in conjunction with the coming Hari Raya celebration.
Describing the dance moves in the video as obscene, Akmal said the controversial celebrity entrepreneur lacked sensitivity towards the sanctity of the holy month of Ramadan.
The video, he said, was not “out of the box” or innovative content; rather, it had “no brains” (lacked substance). – April 3, 2024