IGP warns against socks issue escalation
Published on: Friday, March 29, 2024
By: FMT
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the police were actively monitoring social media to detect posts that may cause tensions among the various racial and religious groups.
PETALING JAYA: Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain has issued a stern warning against any further exacerbation of the issue concerning the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah”.
Razarudin said investigations into the matter have concluded, with the perpetrators brought to court.
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“As previously stated by (Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation director) Shuhaily Zain, this case is closed. Therefore, there is no need to further escalate the ‘Allah’ sock issue,” he was quoted as saying.
“I advise against playing up such issues. It will only bring anxiety and unrest, which is not desirable.”
Razarudin was commenting on the incident at the KK Mart convenience store in Bidor, Perak, where a petrol bomb was thrown on Tuesday.
Shuhaily had also previously called on all parties to stop stoking issues related to race, religion and royalty (3R).
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The controversy over the socks began when photographs were circulated on social media showing them at a KK Mart in Bandar Sunway on March 13.
The issue sparked public outrage and Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh called for a public boycott of KK Mart outlets.
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KK Mart’s founder Chai Kee Kan and its director, Loh Siew Mui, were charged in court with intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims by selling the socks, while three officers from Xin Jiang Chang Sdn Bhd, the company that supplied the socks, were charged with abetting.
All five claimed trial.
Razarudin also said the police were actively monitoring all social media platforms to identify any posts that could potentially incite anger among the various racial and religious groups.
“If there are police reports, we will investigate. There is no need to express dissatisfaction by throwing petrol bombs at KK Super Mart — it is unnecessary,” he said, adding that police will hold those responsible for such criminal acts accountable.
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