2024 Malaysian Allah socks controversy
On 13 March 2024, a pair of socks featuring the word Allah for sale at a KK Super Mart in Sunway City, Petaling Jaya, sparked public controversy in Malaysia.[1] The incident quickly gained attention on social media and led to responses from political and religious figures, calls for boycotts,[2] and ultimately, legal action against the store's management and its distributor, Xin Jian Chang.[3] The case drew attention to issues of religious respect in consumer products and prompted debates on freedom of expression and religious sensitivities in Malaysia.[4]
| KK Super Mart Allah socks incident | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 The graphic designed by Abdulaziz Sahin featured on the controversial socks. | |||
| Date | 13 March 2024 | ||
| Location | KK Super Mart, Sunway City, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia | ||
| Caused by | Sale of socks featuring the word "Allah" | ||
| Methods | Boycott calls, Molotov cocktail attacks, social media backlash | ||
| Status | Ongoing investigation, legal actions taken | ||
| Parties | |||
| |||
| Lead figures | |||
KK Super Mart management, Xin Jian Chang distributors | |||
| Incidents | |||
| Arrested | 1 arrest of social media user, legal proceedings against store and distributor directors | ||
| Charged | KK Super Mart directors under Penal Code Section 298; Xin Jian Chang for abetment | ||
Reactions
editThis case received the attention of the public and politicians such as Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh,[5] Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh,[6] Datuk Razali Idris,[4] and leaders from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).[7][8][9] Some political analysts suggested that certain Muslim politicians were leveraging the event to rally support from Malay nationalists and potentially exacerbate divisions in multicultural Malaysia.[10]
Some commentators urged the public not to exaggerate this issue, including Chong Sin Woon,[11] Wee Ka Siong,[12] Loke Siew Fook,[13] Nga Kor Ming,[14] Dato Sri Tiong King Sing,[15] Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi[16] and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.[17] On social media, some users called for a boycott of the store chain.[2]
KK Super Mart issued an apology for selling the controversial socks, and they have committed to removing the item from their shelves. The distributor of these socks, Xin Jian Chang, also expressed regret. According to their statement, the socks in question were part of a shipment of 18,800 pairs produced by a Chinese company.[18] Notably, only five pairs out of this large quantity had the contentious print. KK Super Mart confirmed that they discovered these socks in stock at three of their 800 outlets.[2]
Since the boycott, there have been three Molotov cocktail-throwing incidents at KK Super Mart branches. On 28 March, at 5:35 am (just six days after similar attacks occurred at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia), a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a KK Super Mart branch in Bidor, Perak from a car.[19] Two days later, another KK Super Mart branch in Kuantan was hit by a Molotov cocktail, causing a small fire at the entrance. Additionally, on April 1, another branch in Kuching was also targeted with a Molotov cocktail.[20] These attacks are still under investigation. According to Wan Mohamad Zahari Wan Busu, the police chief of Kuantan, the attack may be related to the sock controversy.[21][22]
Investigation
editYang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Acting Sultan of Johor (Tunku Mahkota Johor), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim ordered that the those responsible are subject to strict action by the authorities to avoid the same incident from happening again.[18]
Director of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, said two investigation papers were opened following the receipt of 42 reports. This case will be investigated by the Bukit Aman Classified Crime Investigation Unit under Section 298A of the Penal Code. This section pertains to religious reasons, specifically actions that create an atmosphere of disharmony, division, enmity, hatred, malice, or harm to unity.
On March 20, the man who posted the original photo of the socks to social media was arrested.[23]
On March 25, Malaysian police announced that the directors of KK Super Mart and the Xin Jian Chang distribution company would be held liable in court. The directors of KK Super Mart would be charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code for "intentionally wounding religious feelings", while the Xin Jian Chang distribution company would be charged with "abetting the offense".[10][24]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Stoking Kalimah Allah Dijual, Firdaus Wong Minta Tindakan Segera". My Berita. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Annuar, Azril (2024-03-20). "Boycott calls and apologies in Malaysia amid uproar over socks with the word 'Allah'". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Malaysian supermarket chain and supplier to be charged over 'Allah' socks". South China Morning Post. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ a b "Kenapa DAP, MCA lantang mengenai stoking kalimah Allah – Razali". Berita Harian. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "'Boikot jika tiada permohonan maaf secara bertulis'". Harian Metro. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Melaka Chief Minister supports Dr Akmal's stance on 'Allah' socks". Berita Harian. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Isu stoking: Pas Johor sifatkan tindakan tidak bertamadun". Sinar Harian. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Stokin bertulis kalimah Allah – Permohonan maaf tidak cukup, perlu tindakan paling tegas". Harakah Daily. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Pelaku hina Islam mesti dikenakan hukuman keras". Berita Harian. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Malaysian supermarket chain and supplier to be charged over 'Allah' socks". South China Morning Post. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "MCA minta Akmal jangan perbesarkan isu stoking KK Mart". Malaysia Kini. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Let's move on from socks issue and learn from it, says Dr Wee". The Star. 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- ^ "Stoking kalimah Allah: Pemimpin politik perlu jadi pembina jambatan erat semangat perpaduan". Berita Harian. 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Kor Ming tak perlu masuk campur isu stoking kalimah Allah". Kosmo. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Akmal tak patut tunggang isu stoking, Umno berisiko ditolak rakyat- King Sing". Berita Harian. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Jangan berlebihan ulas isu stoking kalimah Allah – Ahmad Zahid". Kosmo. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Stoking kalimah Allah: Anwar mahu tindakan segera ikut undang-undang". Harian Metro. 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ a b "Malaysia's king slams mini-mart chain over 'Allah' socks". South China Morning Post. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Molotov cocktail thrown at KK Super Mart sparks probe". thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Another KK Mart store hit by molotov cocktail attack". nst.com.my. April 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "Malaysia store attacked over 'Allah' socks". Al Jazeera. 2024-03-30. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Second KK Mart with molotov cocktail attack". nst.com.my. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ Bunyan, John (2024-03-21). "Police arrest man over social media post mocking socks with 'Allah'". Malay Mail. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "5 to be charged on March 26 over 'disharmony' caused by KK Mart socks issue in Malaysia". The Straits Times. 2024-03-25. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2024-03-26.