KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has criticised KK Supermart Group’s participation in a recent overseas event during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s working visit to Central Asia.
In a Facebook post, Akmal, who is also Merlimau assemblyman, argued that other Malaysian companies should have been given the opportunity to expand internationally.
“There are many better stores in Malaysia than KK Supermart, such as 99 Speedmart, MyNews, 7-Eleven, and Ikhwan Mart, yet KK Supermart was chosen.”
“Why? Don’t ask me, ask the Prime Minister’s Office. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t take them along,” Akmal wrote, including the hashtag #kekalboikot (keep on boycotting).
He shared a screenshot of a news article showing KK Supermart founder Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan with Anwar at the event.
The article highlighted the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between KK Supermart and the Samarkand region in Uzbekistan to promote economic activities.
The MoU, signed on May 18, was witnessed by Anwar and Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister, Jamshid Khodjaev.
Other attendees included Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Under the MoU, KK Supermart will open branches in Uzbekistan and introduce Malaysian products there, while also opening a specialised store in Malaysia to promote Uzbek goods, particularly fruits and agricultural products.
Chai stated on May 20 that the MoU aims to strengthen ties and enhance trade and investment between the two nations.
This collaboration comes amid criminal charges against Chai and his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui, following backlash over KK Supermart’s sale of socks printed with the word ‘Allah’, which sparked controversy among Muslims in Malaysia.
KK Supermart had found itself the target of boycott calls due to the product, while three of its outlets across the nation were hit by petrol bomb attacks in the span of one week.
On March 26, Chai and Loh pleaded not guilty to charges under Section 298 of the Penal Code for intentionally hurting religious sentiments by displaying the socks at their Sunway branch.
They were released on RM10,000 bail each and face a maximum one-year jail term, fine, or both if convicted.
Supplier Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd and its directors have also pleaded not guilty to charges of abetting KK Supermart in the offence. – May 22, 2024