'Stupid' ministers like Nga affecting economy, not boycotts - Akmal

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh denied that the boycott campaigns he championed are worsening the economy.

Instead, it is because of “stupid” ministers such as Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming that the economy is performing poorly, Akmal said in a statement on Facebook.

“Back in Najib Abdul Razak’s time, we did boycott campaigns but the economy still improved.

“To the unwise Nga Kor Ming, the economy is deteriorating because there are ministers like you. Stupid!” he said.

Yesterday, Nga posted on X saying that local workers have suffered due to the boycotts called for by irresponsible parties.

“Never fall into the trap of instigators, our country needs the efforts of all parties to develop the national economy,” he said.

Attached to his post was a screenshot of a Chinese media report which highlighted the hardship of local workers allegedly affected by business boycotts.

Akmal has called for a boycott against KK Mart over the “Allah” socks issue and against cosmetics entrepreneur Aliff Syukri’s products after the latter’s Hari Raya video was deemed disrespectful of the sanctity of Ramadan.

Sock-gate

Last month, images of socks bearing the word “Allah” being sold at KK Mart’s Bandar Sunway outlet went viral on social media, triggering an uproar.

KK Mart immediately apologised to all its customers, particularly the Muslim community, and halted the sale of the socks.

Despite the apology, Akmal insisted that the KK Mart boycott must continue.

The situation resulted in three attempted firebombings of the convenience store chain’s outlets, an alleged arson threat against KK Mart’s former supplier Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, and Akmal himself claimed that a death threat was made against him.

KK Mart and its former supplier have been charged with hurting religious feelings while the Umno Youth chief has been called up by police over the debacle.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar then urged all parties to stop taking advantage of the issue, saying it should now be left to the authorities.

However, Akmal questioned whether the king had specifically asked for the boycott calls to stop.

Akmal had also previously clashed with Nga when the minister urged Akmal to cease the incitement as it might backfire against Umno.

“If you say defending the word ‘Allah’ by boycotting KK Mart is incitement, bring it on bro!

“(I’m) not scared at all. Umno’s principle is to defend Islam, bumiputera, and the Malay royalty, and this will never change. It’s what Umno Youth will hold on to until death,” he said. - Mkini