KUALA LUMPUR – National DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has called on the prime minister to convene an emergency National Security Council meeting to prevent further violent attacks on KK Mart outlets.
He said the continuous attacks on the convenience store chain must be discussed, and urgent measures must be adopted to immediately stop future attacks that would jeopardise peace and harmony in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
“What is concerning is that this time around, the KK Mart outlet attacked was in Sarawak, which is regarded as the most religiously tolerant state in Malaysia, famed for upholding unity in diversity as well as being the home state of the KK Mart owner.
“Clearly, no place in Malaysia is safe from attacks on KK Mart outlets.
“Since the Umno national leadership has decided to back their Umno Youth chief in his continued boycott action, the federal government must step in to prevent any fueling of anger from spiralling dangerously out of control,” he said on a Facebook post today.
Yesterday, the KK Mart outlet on Jalan Satok became the third store to be targeted in a week, following branches in Bidor, Perak, and Kuantan Pahang, as a result of a controversy over socks with the word “Allah” sold at an outlet in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.
On March 26, a KK Mart store in Bidor, Perak, was hit by a molotov cocktail, and on March 30, a KK Mart in Sg Isap, Kuantan, was similarly attacked in the wee hours of the morning, resulting in a small fire at the store’s entrance.
The attack at the Jalan Satok outlet in Kuching yesterday resulted in a box containing drinks placed on the sidewalk outside the store going up in flames.
Lim said the attacks on the outlets have not stopped despite royal reminders from both the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Sultan of Perak, as well as stern warnings from the prime minister, home minister, and top police officers.
“The king has called on all parties to stop taking advantage of the issue, saying it should now be left to the authorities. He had commanded that he had already ordered actions to be taken, so there was no need to keep fueling anger.
“However, the Umno Youth chief refuses to heed this royal reminder and continues the boycott of KK Mart,” he said, adding that this is irresponsible and unbecoming of a Melaka state government leader that is part of the unity government in Putrajaya.
In a Facebook post, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh condemned the Molotov cocktail attacks against KK Mart outlets but remains adamant that the boycott he has been advocating for should continue.
“Despite the denials of the youth chief (Akmal) of any political motivations and his condemnation of the attacks on KK Mart, this boycott has not stopped the violent attacks on KK Mart by unknown dangerous extremist elements.
“The KK Mart owner has also tearfully apologised for his oversight and faces criminal charges in court by the authorities as commanded by the king,” Lim said.
KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan was reported to have profusely apologised over the incident, while the company’s supplier, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, also expressed its regret for the oversight in its quality control process.
Chai and his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, have since been 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 suit brought by KK Mart, which claims more than RM30 million in damages and losses caused by Xin Jian Chang’s alleged sabotage. – April 2, 2024