KUALA LUMPUR – The Johor state government has formed a new task force to deal with the misuse of the word “Allah.”
In a joint statement issued by the federal government today, the state administration said ongoing incidents affecting the religious sentiments of Muslims were of grave concern.
The newly established task force will be jointly chaired by Johor Islamic Religious Council chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid and state Housing and Local Government executive councillor Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
“All chambers of commerce, trade associations and industry groups are urged to actively address these issues to prevent their recurrence and uphold the dignity of our multiracial community,” the statement read.
“The public awareness campaign in safeguarding the importance of preserving the dignity of the multiracial community should always be nurtured without neglecting continuous monitoring from all enforcement agencies, whether the federal government or the state government.”
Recent controversies, including the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah” at a KK Mart convenience store, an alleged similarity between Vern’s shoe logo and the holy script, and the mislabelling of mini Kaaba-featuring prayer mats as floor mats, prompted the establishment of the task force.
The statement highlighted swift police actions taken in accordance with the country’s laws regarding these matters and affirmed the government’s stance to not compromise on such issues in the future.
Furthermore, the statement reiterated the importance of unity among all communities, echoing the call of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim to refrain from discussions on sensitive topics related to race, religion and royalty.
Sultan Ibrahim previously urged all parties to cease exploiting the “Allah”-printed socks controversy, emphasising that legal action had been initiated and further fuelling of anger was unnecessary.
“I have instructed that action be taken in accordance with the law, so there is no need for any party to continue to fuel anger.
“The action taken is not solely to punish, but to serve as a lesson and reminder to all to uphold the sensitivities of Malaysians,” the King said via his official Facebook page.
The government’s actions aim not only to enforce the law but also to educate and remind all citizens to respect the sensitivities of Malaysians, Sultan Ibrahim added. – April 16, 2024