Batu Pahat council revokes licence of factory linked to 'sock-gate'

 

The Batu Pahat Municipal Council (MPBP) has revoked the operating license of Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd – which is the factory linked to the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah”.

Taking to Facebook, MPBP said it had handed over the licence revocation notice during a meeting at Menara MPBP to Xin Jian Chang’s managing director Soh Hui San, who represented the factory.

“The factory was served the notice under the Trade, Business and Industry Licensing (MPBP) 2016 by-laws for violating conditions stipulated in regard to storage and shoe distribution,” the council stated.

The notice was handed over in the presence of MPBP president Ezahar Abu Sairin and other council members.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he believed the controversial issue of socks bearing the word "Allah" should be probed according to the law, but he doesn't believe in excessive punishment on the matter.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

"My view is clear. There was an offence committed, there must be investigation and immediate action according to the law. That's enough.

"There's no need to drag the matter. We must move forward. Why must we be stuck with these issues?" Anwar was reported as saying.

Earlier in the afternoon, the factory’s management announced that it would remain closed until Sunday to ensure the safety of its staff.

The company had locked its doors and also displayed a banner on the gate of its factory, expressing regret over the incident and promising to uphold its commitment to preserving the sensitivities of a multi-religious society.

It also pledged to maintain harmony and enhance quality-control efforts.

The controversy surfaced last week when images of the socks bearing the word “Allah” being sold at KK Mart’s Bandar Sunway outlet went viral on social media.

Following the uproar, KK Mart issued an apology to all its customers, particularly the Muslim community, and confirmed that immediate action had been taken to halt the sale of the socks.

This included terminating its contract with Xin Jian Chang.

The supplier had, in turn, blamed Mu Mian Qing Hosiery of China for wrongly sending the socks to it.

Police, in an inspection of the Xin Jian Chang factory, said it had only found five pairs of the “Allah” socks, all of which were the ones recalled from KK Mart.