KK Mart founder meets king to apologise for socks fiasco
Published on: Wednesday, April 03, 2024
By: FMT
KK Mart founder and CEO Chai Kee Kan during an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim at Istana Negara today. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim today granted an audience to Chai Kee Kan, the founder of KK Mart which has been embroiled in controversy over the “Allah” socks issue.
During the 15-minute meeting, Chai, also known as KK Chai, took the opportunity to apologise to the king for the convenience store chain’s sale of the socks.
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“All parties must be more responsible,” the king said according to the royal press office.
“Don’t let this incident repeat, and I hope that this will be my last time stressing on the matter.
“Once again, I warn all parties against taking advantage of the matter, including inciting the rakyat. I do not want this issue to prolong any further.”
The king also said that businesses and retailers, including KK Mart, must be more prudent about the products they put up for sale, especially imported goods.
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The KK Mart controversy began on March 13 when photographs of socks with the word “Allah” at an outlet in Bandar Sunway were circulated on social media. The company issued an immediate apology.
Sultan Ibrahim had expressed his displeasure at the controversy when it first surfaced, calling for stern action to be taken against those responsible.
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Chai and his wife Loh Siew Mui, who is a KK Mart director, have claimed trial to intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims by selling the socks.
But despite KK Mart’s apology and the court charges, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh continued to publicly campaign for a nationwide boycott of the convenience chain’s outlets.
On March 27, the king urged all parties to stop taking advantage of the controversy, saying the matter should be left to the authorities and that “persistent anger brings no benefit”.
Three KK Mart outlets, including one in Kuching, Sarawak, have been subject to petrol bomb attacks over the past week.
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