Socks issue: 'Some use controversial issues as political mileage, that's not our principle' – Pas Selangor

PETALING JAYA – Selangor Pas commissioner says certain quarters may use controversial issues for political mileage and stresses that Malaysia’s harmony should be prioritised.

Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri said the recent issue regarding the sale of socks bearing the word 'Allah' at KK Supermart was a national issue faced by all Malaysians and it should be handled with care.

"Sometimes people use such issue to take political mileage and that is not our principle. We discussed it with knowledge and also judicial process.

"While the socks issue is significant to the Muslim community, it should not be allowed to jeopardise Malaysia’s multiracial harmony.

"We need to look at the bigger picture here, this is not just about socks but the issue of respecting religions. In a multiracial country, we need to be cautious when talking about sensitive issues," he said.

Halim said this when asked why Pas had kept mum on the issue compared to Umno.

He added that if someone wanted to champion Islamic issues, it should not be just on one issue.

"We had been fighting for the Islamic cause longer (than other parties), there is no compromise for those who insulted Allah and the name of God," he said, adding that one should not insult other religions as it would invite others to do the same.

The solution, he said, lies in preventing Islamophobia within the community.

"We need to face the issue as a whole, it has links to Islamophobia and it does not occur only in Malaysia but also in Indonesia and other countries.

"Islamophobia is a mindset created by the West to divide us (Muslim). We need a discussion to give understanding of what Islam is all about," he said.

He said to curb this, it needed to be understood why the West wanted to attack Muslims.

Halim also said the party was constantly engaging with non-Muslim groups to find out their perception on Muslims and ways to fix Islamophobia among Malaysians.

The issue started when images showing a pair of socks bearing the word 'Allah' allegedly being sold at a KK Mart shop in Bandar Sunway surfaced on social media.

The incident triggered a frenzied reaction among various quarters, with some calling for a boycott of the stores.

KK Mart Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr K.K. Chai, in an immediate response issued a public apology and said the team had never made such a mistake in its 23 years in business.

The company said the sale of the socks had been immediately halted pending an explanation from the supplier.

The incident elicited a response from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, who expressed his disappointment over the issue and decreed that stern action be taken against those who were guilty.

The issue also drew the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who said immediate action must be taken to prevent disrespect towards any religion, particularly Islam.

Among those who had been vocal about the issue was Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

He had since received a death threat from an individual who threatened to gun him down if he continued to pursue the socks controversy.

Yesterday, a man driving a dark-coloured vehicle with the red sticker of delivery company Lalamove threw Molotov cocktail at a KK Mart branch in Bidor.

The founder and group executive chairman of KK Group who owned KK Mart convenience store chain and his wife were charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court yesterday (Tuesday) over the sale of socks with the word 'Allah' printed on them at one of KK Mart's outlets in Selangor.