KUALA LUMPUR – In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah” at various KK Mart outlets, both the convenience store chain and its supplier find themselves embroiled in a complex legal saga, drawing significant public attention.
Following multiple police reports filed regarding the issue, both companies, along with their respective directors, faced charges in the Shah Alam sessions court for allegedly hurting religious sentiments on Tuesday.
The legal proceedings were instigated by a previous incident where law enforcement officials discovered 14 pairs of the contentious socks during a raid on the premises of the local importer. Despite KK Mart’s recall of the socks and their return to the supplier, the actions were insufficient to avert legal consequences.
Additionally, both companies are entangled in a separate civil suit initiated by KK Mart, seeking over RM30 million in damages and losses allegedly caused by its supplier Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd’s purported sabotage.
As the trial unravels, Scoop takes a look at all parties involved in the fiasco.
K.K. Chai and wife, KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd
Founder and executive director of KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd, Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan, 57, along with his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, 53, were accused of intentionally hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims by displaying the socks.
They are charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code, where they may be liable to jail time of up to a year, fines, or both if found guilty.
Chai is also charged as the representative of KK Supermart under similar allegations and legal provisions.
In response to the public backlash caused by the controversial socks, Chai issued an apology during a press conference soon after the incident.
According to the husband-wife duo’s counsel, Loh is a housewife, while the couple has two children who are still studying.
Chai and KK Mart’s defence counsel
Rajpal Singh
Representing the husband and wife is defence counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh, who is also the son of former Royal Military Police Corps officer Mukhtiar Singh Sodagar Singh.
In 2023, Rajpal represented then-30-year-old Liow Wei Kin, brother of businessman Nicky Liow Soon Hee, over tax-evasion and money-laundering charges.
He also represented former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong in the case where the latter had raped his maid.
Rajpal was previously the Bar Council’s criminal law committee chairman and a legal aid committee member, while also being the Selangor Bar’s representative to the council for the 2011–2012 term.
Amid the case, Rajpal was reported as saying his clients – both Chai and the company – would prevail at the end of the trial.
David Gurupatham
Also representing the couple is Datuk David Gurupatham. He was the lawyer for businessman Abdul Malik Dasthigeer, who was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission last year.
In 2023, David also represented Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL in the trial against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor regarding 43 missing pieces of jewellery after a raid by the authorities in 2018.
R.S. Sodhi
Datuk R.S. Sodhi previously represented a former director of Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd, Nor Rosnani Ibrahim, in a civil suit against her successor, Azlan Shah Jaffril.
The trial was over a breached agreement, which also included an order by Rosnani for Azlan to re-transfer 30% of company shares to the former.
Back in 2014, Sodhi represented two former national hockey players – brothers Kevinder and Harjinder Singh – in a defamation suit against Malay Mail Sdn Bhd, where the sportsmen alleged that the daily had published false and malicious claims.
Theng Book
Datuk Theng Book was Barisan Nasional component MCA’s legal consultant for the party’s public services and complaints department.
He held the role for 27 years and was a party member for four decades before quitting in November 2022 to contest the Petaling Jaya parliamentary seat under a Perikatan Nasional ticket.
He is also the chairman of the Strata Owners’ Association Malaysia.
James Ee
Among the cases lawyer James Ee has dealt with in recent years include one involving lawyer Marcus Chong, who was the victim of identity theft after his name was used in seven e-consignments through Pos Malaysia.
Ee was also one of MCA’s public services and complaints department chief Michael Chong’s lawyers and represented him following claims that he received RM2 million from businessman Nicky Liow.
Xin Jian Chang and directors
Batu Pahat-based wholesaler Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd and its directors were also charged on Tuesday under Sections 109 and 298 of the Penal Code.
The directors, husband and wife Soh Chin Huat, 61 and Goh Li Huay, 62, as well as their daughter Soh Hui San, 36, face similar punishments if found guilty.
Similar to Chai, Soh also represented the company.
While pleading for a bail amount, the trio’s defence counsel argued that Soh and Goh had cooperated with the authorities during investigations, while Goh was not involved in the firm’s management and operations, despite being listed as a director.
Xin Jian Chang’s sole defence lawyer
Lau Yi Leong is Xin Jian Chang and the family of directors’ defence counsel for their criminal trial.
He had previously represented Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran last year during an election petition appeal made by Tan Sri M. Ramasamy challenging the 15th general election results for the Johor constituency.
However, it is undetermined whether Lau would also be representing the firm in the suit filed by KK Mart.
Prosecution team
The prosecution is led by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud, who also took on Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s sedition case.
Masri’s other notable cases include the trial of Goldman Sachs International and its Asian entities, Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC and Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte, before discontinuing the case in 2020.
In 2018, he was also part of the prosecution team in then-finance minister Lim Guan Eng’s corruption case, where the politician claimed trial to using his position as Penang’s chief minister at that time to gain gratification for himself and his wife.
Other DPPs for the trial against KK Mart and Xin Jian Chang include Khairul Azreem Mamat, Ku Hayati Ku Haron, Noor Haslinda Che Seman and Nadia Mohd Izhar.
Unstoppable forces or immovable objects?
Muhamad Akmal Saleh
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh was one of the most vocal objectors to the actions of KK Mart and Xin Jian Chang.
Consistently calling for a boycott over the two firms’ errors, Dr Akmal said it was to protect the sanctity of Islam and not for any political gain or influence.
He remained steadfast in his stance, even after being advised against doing so by multiple national leaders, including Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, and even his party predecessor Khairy Jamaluddin.
Despite all this, Dr Akmal told Scoop that it would be unfair to boycott all non-Muslim businesses.
He had also condemned an incident where a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a KK Mart outlet in Bidor, Perak, which occurred on Tuesday.
Firdaus Wong
Independent preacher Firdaus Wong was one of the first to uncover the sale of the socks and was also called as a witness to assist in the investigation.
He then uploaded a post about the offending socks on social media, eliciting an outcry from Muslims.
Following images of him with his supermarket, MyKampung Fresh Mart, which circulated online, Wong denied speculation that he attempted to sabotage KK Mart through the socks controversy.
He said his supermarket, which opened in 2021, had since closed down.
On Wednesday, Wong lodged six police reports over a death threat and accusations of slander. – March 30, 2024