KUALA LUMPUR – A group of Malaysian activists, including representatives from Sabah and Sarawak, have slammed Umno’s decision to endorse its youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s call for a boycott on KK Mart.
Mohamed Tawfik Ismail, who spoke on behalf of the group named Malaysia First, described Akmal’s reaction to the incident involving the convenience store as “disappointing” and “disgusting”.
Tawfik, former MP of Sg Benut (now named Simpang Renggam), stated that the group – comprising individuals from diverse racial and religious backgrounds across Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak – viewed Umno’s stance as an unjustifiably harsh punishment bordering on bullying, extremism, and political opportunism.
“We had high hopes for Umno to mend its false ways of the past but now we doubt that Umno could be a good partner in our unity government, forged by the hopes of the then-incumbent Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah.
“We, Malaysians of all races and religions, are extremely disappointed and disgusted with Umno that had once saved our nation from a coalition of extremists,” he said in a statement today
“We uphold the investigation of the authorities and await the final outcome and punishment by the authorities, not by Umno extremists.
“We accept the apologies made by KK Mart whether by their negligence or dereliction in the display of the stocking with the name Allah.
“At the same time, we honour the name of all the Gods in our religions including the sacred name ‘Allah’.”
Also in the group were columnist Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, criminologist and sociologist Teh Yik Koon, lawyer and activist Siti Kasim, Sabah Action Body advocating rights chairman Datuk Johan Ariffin Abdul Samad, MA63 activist Remy Majangkim, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Md Razid Md Ali, Malaysian author E.S.Shankar, and columnist Datuk M. Santhananaban, among others.
The group added that they honour the values of all their religions in forgiveness, compassion, tolerance, and understanding.
Recently, Akmal had called on the public to boycott KK Mart, saying that it was to serve as a lesson to any party that tries to disrupt the sensitivity of the people.
He also denied allegations that he was seeking to gain political mileage but said his actions were to defend Islam against insults.
He added that he will continue the boycott until the situation was resolved. – March 23, 2024