KUALA LUMPUR – Cease the boycott of KK Mart and just calm down, says Bumiputera Retailers Association president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin.
Failure to do so would only disrupt the peace and racial harmony in the country, he added.
Speaking to Scoop, Ameer said that this statement is not intended to defend KK Mart or its founder, Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan; rather, the bigger issue here is national harmony.
“He (Chai) has apologised, and if we look at his face, we can see the sincerity of his apology, and he knows he is wrong and has overlooked it. As good Muslims, and coincidentally, in this holy month, we should also forgive him.
“Why do we want to boycott? He (Chai) is also a Malaysian, he also had a hard time, and he is not a rich man’s son, just like me.
“The ‘bad guys’ are some politicians who try to be champions, including Dr Akmal (Umno Youth chief Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh).
“When politicians are involved, they have a political agenda.
“I think we should cool down. Don’t make a fuss anymore (about the boycott), continue to live in harmony and refrain from touching the 3R issues (race, religion, and royalty),” he said when met at his office today.
Yesterday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim granted an audience to Chai, who has been embroiled in controversy over the “Allah”-printed socks issue.
During the 15-minute meeting, he apologised to the king for the convenience store chain’s sale of the socks.
Ameer, who is also Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd (Mydin) managing director, said that the boycott against the local retailer does not need to continue as the case is already in legal proceedings.
“Moreover, the king has also decreed that the law enforcers have taken action and Chai has also been brought to court; if we make a mistake, then we have to accept the consequences,” he said.
For example, he said that while supporting the purchase of Muslim goods, the Buy Muslim First campaign only advocates for boycotts of other products.
“This I support, not because I’m a Muslim but because it addresses the economic challenges faced by Bumiputera Malays who are in the bottom 40 group (B40),” he added.
“If the Chinese and Indians are also in need of support and help, we must also help them,” he added.
He added that there are many more challenges that need to be focused on, especially the increase in the cost of living, instead of thinking about boycotts.
“We are facing so many challenges now: the increase in the cost of living, foreign investment, our tourism is not as strong as Thailand and Vietnam, and we see more people vacationing in Hatyai than in Malaysia.
“If we focus on things like this, at least we can raise the national economy. We are a country with a lot of potential; we have a lot of resources, farms, palm oil, and a lot of land, so don’t destroy this country,” he said.
Akmal had recently said KK Mart could consider going into other businesses as Umno Youth will continue its call to boycott the chain following the fiasco.
He also reiterated that he did not need permission or an opinion from any minister to defend his religion when it was insulted.
Akmal added that the movement was not political or to gain any influence, but to protect the sanctity of Islam.
KK Mart outlets nationwide have been targeted in attacks, with the branch in Kuching being the third after those in Bidor, Perak, and Kuantan, Pahang. – April 4, 2024