Calls for closure to socks issue

 

Practise tolerance: (From left) Tawfik, Mujahid and Noor Azimah urge the public to learn a lesson from this and move on.

Moderation advocates say it is important to move on after the apology

PETALING JAYA: With a major convenience store apologising profusely for its oversight in selling socks with the word “Allah” printed on it, individuals and groups have come out to call for understanding and closure to the issue.

As Umno Youth continued to make demands, political leaders urged for cool heads to prevail, saying the episode should serve as a lesson to all to be more careful in dealing with religious sensitivities.

Moderation advocate Tawfik Ismail said with the unequivocal apology by KK Super Mart chain, the matter should be allowed to rest.

“I think an incident like this is unintentional. The store was careless and overlooked the design and allowed sales, which is a human error,” he said.

Tawfik, a former Sungai Benut MP, said the people should uphold the virtue of forgiveness. “Case closed then,” said the son of the country’s former deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman.

Amanah vice-president Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa said since KK Super Mart had apologised to the public, all parties must move forward.

The former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) said the episode should serve as a caution to others, especially businesses, to have proper and stringent mechanisms in place to ensure there are no offensive elements.

Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said Malaysians should learn from this and move on.

“We have to be more sensitive towards each other’s religions, cultures and traditions. Diversity is our strength,” she added.

Anas Zubedy, another moderation advocate, called for calm, adding that people should not blow things out of proportion.“It was likely not done on purpose and was an honest mistake,” he said, adding that Muslims should always show forgiveness and mercy.

Former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said it was unreasonable for Umno Youth “to make more unreasonable demands over the issue”.

“Look at the demands of Umno Youth to KK Super Mart to strengthen their apology. How does one make a stronger apology?,” he asked.

Zaid said the owner of KK Super Mart chain Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai had given his explanation over the controversy.

“His explanation appears reasonable to me. What gains or motives would a supermarket chain have to use the word Allah deliberately on a small part of its stock?” he asked.

He urged Umno Youth to think through the matter carefully. Saying that they would take drastic action unless KK Super Mart puts up banners apologising in all its 881 stores strike me as a bullying and humiliating tactic, not so much as to get an apology,” he added.

On Saturday night, Umno Youth demanded that banners be hung at all 881 of KK Super Mart’s outlets nationwide apologising over the controversial socks issue.

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said they would resort to more “drastic” action if such an apology was not forthcoming within 48 hours.

“We will not brook any nonsense on this matter and will teach them a lesson on this unacceptable behaviour,” said Muhamad Akmal after lodging a police report against KK Super Mart with Jasin Umno division members.

He said the convenience store chain should be investigated over the issue and told Umno Youth members nationwide to lodge police reports over the incident.

In a statement on its Facebook page on Friday, the company apologised and said that it had stopped the sale of the socks.

“We regret the incident and take this seriously,” read the statement, which went on to explain that the socks were part of a consignment product from a vendor.

“We have contacted the vendor for further explanation. KK Super Mart also thanks the public for their comments on the matter.

“We apologise once again and will ensure this does not happen again,” it said.

The company also published an apology from the vendor, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd from Batu Pahat in Johor, which admitted its mistake.

“We deeply regret this incident, and admit our mistake in not carefully inspecting the product procured from China. We will be more careful and sensitive in the future.

“We apologise to all Muslims and also KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd,” said the vendor, referring to the company that operates the 24-hour KK Super Mart chain.

The post has since received over a thousand comments and shares, with mixed reactions from users.

The convenience store chain also submitted a letter to the Home Ministry, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar (religious affairs) and religious authorities to explain itself. - Star