PAS is not involved in the move to boycott the KK Mart convenience store chain following the controversy over socks bearing the word Allah, said its ulama wing leader Ahmad Yahaya.
PAS' stance on the matter, he said, differed from the boycott of entities in support of the Zionist aggression in Palestine.
"On the issue of boycotting Israeli products, it is different because it is directly related (to the Israeli attack on Gaza). However, on the issue of KK Mart, there is no direct connection.
"That's why PAS does not take an approach to boycott. If you look at the speeches, not a single PAS leader called for a boycott of KK Mart.
"The PAS leadership is only asking for strict action to be taken against those responsible. If there is action, I'm sure this issue and the story of the boycott will subside," Ahmad (above) told reporters at a breaking of fast event with the media in Ampang, last night.
He was commenting on Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s call for the public to continue boycotting KK Mart, saying the company can now "think of other businesses."
Ahmad said PAS calls for unity in the country but is adamant that no party can insult any religion.
"For us it's easy. We want to manage the situation in the country so that there is no conflict leading to division. The reason we called earlier for unity is because the situation we want is a stable one.
"Because of that, we are firm that we cannot accept any party that insults any religion. I would say, (this is the sentiment) even among Muslims," the Pokok Sena MP added.
Hidden hands?
Ahmad did not rule out the possibility of an unseen hand in this KK Mart issue.
"We have described it as if there was a black hand that deliberately triggered this kind of thing.
"Let's take the example of the explosions at KK Mart. Of course, we are now exposed to accusing each other and demanding that the authorities investigate who caused the problem," he said.
Ahmad expressed concern that the matter will continue.
"We are worried that it will not stop. The latest developments are that the police arrested an Israeli in our country with a firearm. This is concerning and we hope to avoid any provocation.
"We hope the authorities, especially the government, are firm if there are unseen hands that are deliberately creating the cause of conflict between races and religions in our country," he said.
The PAS lawmaker also claimed that the government was slow to act and this was one reason this issue was getting more heated.
"Today's government's failure to fulfil its promises, especially to Muslims, is one of the causes of racial tension.
"Some things that challenge the rights of Muslims are seen to be happening,” he said, adding that the previous Perikatan Nasional administration was more “clean” and “calm”, and was not troubled by issues related to racism.
Controversy erupted when a picture of socks with the word Allah written on them was sold at KK Mart in Bandar Sunway and went viral on social media.
Following the uproar, KK Mart issued an apology to all its customers, especially the Muslim community, and confirmed that immediate action had been taken to stop the sale of the socks.
The founder of the KK Mart convenience store chain, Chai Kee Kan, and his wife Loh Siew Mui, were charged with intentionally hurting the feelings of Muslims at the Shah Alam Sessions Court.
Aside from the boycott, two firebomb incidents occurred, the first at a KK Mart in Bidor, Perak last week and the latest one at its outlet in Sungai Isap, Kuantan, Pahang yesterday. - Mkini
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