KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has lashed out at Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, after the PKR vice-president said “aggressive attitudes” in addressing the “Allah”-printed socks issue has “invited extreme action” from certain individuals against convenience store chain KK Mart.
In a Facebook post today, Akmal questioned the basis of Nik Nazmi’s allegations, insisting that the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister furnish evidence to back up his claims.
“Do you have proof when you connected my actions with the petrol bombs (thrown at KK Mart stores) incidents?
“I’d like to ask the minister as well, have investigations into the attacks been completed? Have suspects been detained?
“If not, how can you attribute the attacks to any individual? Do you have proof who caused the attacks?”
Yesterday, Nik Nazmi pointed the finger at Akmal, claiming that the Merlimau assemblyman’s “aggressive attitude” in addressing the issue has “invited extreme action” from certain individuals.
The minister also urged Akmal to heed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree to stop politicising the matter, cautioning that continuing to ride on the issue for political mileage will not benefit anyone.
This came after KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan was granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim to apologise for his company’s sale of socks printed with the word “Allah”.
“Once again, I warn quarters against taking advantage of this matter, especially (by) inciting the people. I do not want this matter to drag on,” Sultan Ibrahim said on his official Facebook page.
In a Facebook post hours after reports of the meeting between the Agong and Chai, Akmal said leaders must be the voice of the people without feeling scared as the people have made their choice without force.
“Keep calm and continue boycotting peacefully,” Akmal said in the post, believed to be referencing his call for a boycott against KK Mart.
His post also came after Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin reportedly said the party leadership, particularly president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had ordered Akmal to stop playing up the “Allah”-printed socks issue and cease calls to boycott KK Mart.
For the record, Umno had previously backed Akmal’s calls for a boycott against KK Mart after viral images of the socks at its branch caused the chain and its manufacturer Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd to be the target of outrage.
The controversy has since led to several KK Mart outlets being attacked, with three hits so far involving molotov cocktails being thrown at its stores in Pahang, Perak and Sarawak in over a week.
Last week, Chai and his wife Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui were charged in the Shah Alam sessions court for intentionally hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims, while three of Xin Jian Chang’s directors were also charged with abetting the duo in the socks’ distribution.
The two companies are also engaged in a separate civil suit brought by KK Mart, which is seeking more than RM30 million in damages and losses caused by Xin Jian Chang’s alleged sabotage. – April 4, 2024