KUALA LUMPUR – Umno agrees with its Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s strident calls for a boycott of convenience store chain KK Mart over its sale of socks bearing the word “Allah.”
Party secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said all Umno Supreme Council members had unanimously stated their support for the boycott.
“It was discussed in the supreme council and the council was unanimous in its full support of Umno Youth’s stance on the issue,” Asyraf said at a press conference at the party headquarters at Menara Dato’ Onn here today.
He maintained that the youth wing’s position and the party’s support would not affect ties with other allies in the unity government, after the heads of some parties called for Dr Akmal to tone down his rhetoric.
“Nothing has been affected (relations between the parties) because the important thing is that Umno continues to stand firm with its stance of defending the sanctity of Islam,” Asyraf said.
Asyraf added that other parties in the unity government respected Umno’s stand in defending Islam, the position of Bumiputera Malays, the sovereignty of the Malay rulers and upholding the Malay language.
“These are our four core conditions to forming the unity government, and the party leaders in the government, as well as the cabinet members, respect our agreement. So there is no problem,” he said.
Dr Akmal has been told off for his rhetoric against KK Mart by DAP leaders Anthony Loke, who is transport minister, and Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, as well as PDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is tourism, arts and culture minister.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, called on all parties not to prolong divisive rhetoric over KK Mart and the offending socks.
After a photo of one pair with the word “Allah” went viral on social media, KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri K.K. Chai apologised following public outrage.
KK Mart’s local supplier, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, 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 vendor in China were cleared for sale here.
Police today said their probe into the matter had been completed, and that they were recommending to the Attorney-General’s Chambers that both KK Mart and its supplier Xin Jian Chang be charged. – March 22, 2024