KUALA LUMPUR – Police have discouraged those seeking to take matters into their own hands over convenience store chain KK Mart’s controversial sale of socks printed with the word “Allah”.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain urged the public to let authorities conduct investigations according to due process, warning that vigilante actions will cause more harm than good.
“We (police) have investigated the issue and taken action based on the law. Let the upholding of our laws be done by authorities who are empowered (to) enforce them.
“If (vigilante) moves are executed, the situation will not be eased and will instead worsen,” Shuhaily told a press conference today.
He also said that it would be best if those affected by any issue directed their frustrations towards lodging a police report.
Shuhaily’s remarks come after a video recording of 34-year-old Chiok Wai Loong being surrounded by a group of men while apologising for posting offensive content over the “Allah”-printed socks issue.
Chiok earlier today pleaded guilty to uploading an offensive Facebook post over the ‘Allah’-printed socks issues and was sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM12,000 by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court.
Prior to his arrest yesterday, he appeared in a video posted to his Facebook page showing a group of men surrounding him as he promised not to insult other religions again. His offending Facebook post has been deleted.
Chiok is the second individual to be charged amid the furore over the socks, with the first man in Kota Kinabalu receiving a six-month jail term and a RM15,000 fine yesterday.
There are currently calls for Muslim consumers to boycott KK Mart stores, with videos emerging on social media showing individuals staging protests and confronting store staff in some locations.
Following public outrage, KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri K.K. Chai apologised profusely at a press conference last weekend, with the store’s outlets opting to express their regret in the form of banners outside the store and messages at its counter.
Meanwhile, KK Mart’s local supplier, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, had also apologised for an oversight in its quality control process, saying it had done its best to ensure that all 18,800 socks received from its vendor in China were cleared for sale here. – March 22, 2024