JOHOR BARU: The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has issued a stern warning to KK Super Mart and has summoned its founder Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai over the controversial socks issue.
The department said it had warned the company to ensure the matter does not happen again.
Jakim director-general Datin Paduka Hakimah Mohd Yusoff said they had summoned Chai on Monday.
“The company management has given an explanation and steps that it will implement to avoid a repeat of the incident,” she said in a statement.
Hakimah said that the convenience store chain had also agreed to review and update the company’s standard operating procedure.
She said Jakim supported action by the police to open an investigation paper on the incident, which she said had touched on the sensitivities of Muslims in the country.
She reminded entrepreneurs, manufacturers, suppliers and importers to be cautious and give serious attention to sensitive issues that touch on religion and race to maintain harmony in society.
Hakimah advised all parties not to raise issues related to 3R (religion, royalty and race). They should leave it to the authorities to take action, she added.
Earlier yesterday, police seized five pairs of socks with the word “Allah” printed on them during an inspection at Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd factory in Batu Pahat, which was the vendor that supplied the socks.
Batu Pahat OCPD ACP Ismail Dollah said a team of 40 policemen from the state contingent police headquarters and Batu Pahat district police headquarters carried out checks at the factory at about 9am.
He said inspections found that the factory had imported 16 bundles containing 18,800 socks, but only five pairs were found with the word “Allah” printed on them.
“The factory’s management gave its full cooperation to us throughout the inspection.
“We checked each of the goods in their stocks and found that the items did not have the word ‘Allah’ printed on them except for the five pairs, which were seized.
“The socks in question were returned by the convenience store located in Bandar Sunway, Selangor,” he told the media after the inspection.
ACP Ismail added that only three of the convenience store branches in Selangor were found selling the socks – two in Bandar Sunway and another in Sunway Mentari.
The case is being investigated under Section 298A of the Penal Code, Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he said.
ACP Ismail also reminded the public as well as groups and NGOs against taking part in demonstrations related to the issue, saying that it could disrupt public harmony.
“We will not hesitate to take action against those who engage in such activities that are against the law. Give way to the police to carry out investigations,” he added.
