Akmal must stop harping on KK Mart issue, says Sarawak minister
Published on: Thursday, April 04, 2024
By:
FMT, Nicholas Chung
Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (left) says boycott campaigns like the one being spearheaded by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh create ‘more stress’ for the nation.
PETALING JAYA: Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has urged Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to put a stop to his KK Mart boycott campaign, saying his actions do not bode well for the country.
At a press conference in Kuching, the state tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister said Akmal should consider the state of the nation as a whole.
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“Those who seem to be advocating and trying to create a boycott campaign and things like that, you are creating ‘more stress’ for our nation. Whether you’re from Umno or any party, don’t bother. Look at the nation as a whole.
“You can be the Umno Youth chief but you cannot be playing with incitement this way, saying boycott this and that, playing (on) religious issues. I personally think this is not very good,” he said.
Karim also asked why the police were taking so long to nab those behind the petrol bomb attacks on three KK Mart outlets, including one in Kuching.
The vice-president of Gabungan Parti Sarawak lynchpin Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu urged the police to quickly arrest the culprits, saying worse incidents might occur if action is not taken.
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“The slow pace of the matter being investigated and action taken, I’m quite puzzled myself,” he said.
The controversy began on March 13 when photographs of socks with the word “Allah” at a KK Mart outlet in Bandar Sunway were circulated on social media.
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The company issued an apology, but Akmal has continued to campaign for a nationwide boycott of the convenience store chain.
While Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim issued a “final warning” yesterday against taking advantage of the controversy, Akmal was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying the king did not explicitly say that the boycott of KK Mart outlets should be stopped.
His actions have drawn criticism from many quarters, with former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin urging Akmal to stop hitting out at KK Mart.
KK Mart’s founder and director Chai Kee Kan and Loh Siew Mui have claimed trial to intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims by selling the socks.
Meanwhile, Karim said the petrol bomb attack in Kuching was unexpected as Sarawak was known to be a peaceful state with a higher level of tolerance “as compared to others”.
He again urged the home ministry and police to ensure that the culprits behind the attacks on KK Mart outlets are apprehended soon to prevent the issue from escalating.
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