KUALA LUMPUR – The students group University Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) has condemned the recent act of vandalism in which red paint was splashed on the doors of KK Mart at Kompleks Perdana Siswa (KPS) in Universiti Malaya (UM).
The organisation has called on the university administration to launch a transparent investigation and address public concerns without delay.
The KK Mart outlet at UM’s KPS was defaced with red paint by unidentified individuals, a crime that recalls the recent controversy surrounding the store due to the “ham and cheese sandwich” incident.
Although it remains unclear whether the vandalism is linked to this controversy, Umany President Lim Jing Jet said that resorting to extreme actions such as vandalism is an inappropriate form of expression.
He warned that vandalising property may seem trivial but could still be classified as destruction of property under Section 425 of the Penal Code.
Lim also highlighted the serious concerns raised by this incident regarding campus security.
“If even a chain store like KK Mart can be vandalised on campus, what does that say about the safety of other areas and the well-being of students?” he questioned.
He called for the university to take concrete steps to bolster security, such as installing additional surveillance cameras, increasing patrols, and collaborating with the UMSU to improve campus safety.
Umany reiterated its call for the university administration to swiftly and transparently investigate the matter, ensuring that the incident is not ignored and that the perpetrators are held accountable.
The organisation emphasised that this issue concerns all students at UM, as anyone could be the next victim.
Meanwhile, the Brickfields District Police chief Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood confirmed receiving a report about the red paint vandalism at a convenience store on a public university campus.
“The incident, which took place on January 21, 2025, at approximately 12.50 a.m., was reported by a store employee who noticed red paint marks on the store’s front door. The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code. The investigation is ongoing.”
Last week, the supplier of a “halal”-stamped “ham sandwich” sold by KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd clarified that the chicken slices used in the product are certified halal.
Shake and Bake Cafe Sdn Bhd issued a statement confirming that the chicken meat slices used in the sandwich have a valid halal certificate from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim). The supplier also noted that Jakim and the Domestic Trade and Living Costs Ministry (KPDN) conducted an inspection of its factory premises on January 10.
“The matter is currently being investigated by Jakim and KPDN. We pledge to give our full cooperation to KPDN and Jakim in this investigation,” Shake and Bake Cafe stated.
Along with the statement, the supplier included a copy of the halal certificate from Jakim for its product range, including the “Chicken Sandwich.”
However, the statement did not address the issues raised regarding the labelling process, which saw the “ham sandwich” – bearing a halal logo on its barcode sticker – go viral on social media. The sandwich’s description omitted the word “chicken,” which led to confusion. Jakim later stated that despite the halal logo, the sandwiches lacked proper halal certification.
KPDN’s enforcement director-general, Datuk Azman Adam, later revealed that the sandwich maker is under investigation for allegedly using expired halal logos issued by Jakim. The logos had expired in October 2023 after the company acquired the business from its predecessor, which had obtained halal certification.
The issue was brought to public attention when Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh posted a video on social media about the sale of “halal” ham and cheese sandwiches. He had been alerted to the matter by students at Universiti Malaya, where the product was sold at a KK Concept Store on campus.
Earlier, KK Supermart stated that the sandwich in question contained chicken meat, and the store had filed a police report against Shake and Bake Cafe for its labelling practices. The convenience chain also served the supplier with a letter of demand. – January 21, 2025