Umno voices full support for Youth chief's position on socks

 

Umno has voiced its full support for the stance taken by the party’s Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh on the socks controversy.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said a unanimous decision was made by the party’s supreme working council at its meeting today.

“(The position of) Umno Youth represents Umno, (the statement made by) the Umno Youth chief was discussed earlier in the meeting and all members of the meeting fully support the position of the Umno Youth movement.

“Regarding the issue of the word Allah on the socks, it was also discussed in the meeting and the meeting unanimously supported Umno Youth’s stance on the issue,” he said.

Asyraf (above) was speaking during a press conference at the Menara Dato Onn lobby of the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

Akmal has been among several politicians who were outspoken on the issue, urging people to boycott KK Mart if the convenience store chain did not put up banners to apologise.

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh

He also urged the public to file police reports.

Controversy erupted last week when a picture of socks with the word ‘Allah’ written on them at the KK Mart Sunway City convenience store went viral on social media.

Following the uproar, KK Mart issued an apology to all its customers, especially the Muslim community, and confirmed immediate action was taken to stop the sale of the socks.

That included terminating its contract with Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, a supplier company based in Batu Pahat, Johor.

‘No problem’ in govt on socks issue

Meanwhile, commenting on the relationship between Umno allies in government regarding the issue, Asyraf said there was nothing to worry about.

“Nothing has been affected because the important thing is, as stated earlier, Umno continues to remain steadfast in its stance of defending the purity of Islam.

“That is the goal of Umno’s struggle. Even in forming this unity government, we put four important conditions,” he said.

The conditions were also included in the agreement signed to form the federal government, Asyraf added.

“We in Umno put a condition, which is to never underestimate anything related to the position of Islam as the religion of the federation. Also the interests and privileges of Malay bumiputera under Article 153.

“And the sovereignty of the Malay kings and the Malay language,” he said.

“And I think as of today the leaders of the unity government, the cabinet ministers, also respect the agreement. So there is no problem,” Asyraf stressed. - Mkini