Would Akmal React This Way If Store Was Muslim Owned Loke Asks

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With Umno Youth still fuming over the socks bearing the word Allah case, Anthony Loke urged the former to look at the case from a different perspective and avoid escalating the issue.
“I want to ask (Dr Muhamad) Akmal (Saleh). If this happened to a store or a chain of retail stores owned by Muslims, would your reaction be the same? So, I think this is something we have to consider as leaders.
“As leaders, we must lead the society in a harmonious way and not escalate issues like this further. That is our stand,” said the DAP secretary-general during a press conference after attending the grant cheque handover event at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology today.
Having said that, Loke (above) stated that he had met Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Malacca Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh last night in Putrajaya and expressed DAP’s position on the matter.
However, the transport minister did not mention what the Umno leaders had said during the meeting.
Last week, images of the Miranosock socks bearing the word Allah sold at convenience store chain KK Mart’s Bandar Sunway outlet went viral on social media.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal SalehFollowing the uproar, KK Mart apologised to all its customers and the Muslim community in particular.
The chain also assured that immediate steps had been taken to stop the sale of the socks.
Police have confirmed they are probing KK Mart under two sections, namely Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity, or enmity on religious grounds, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper network facility use or service.
Meanwhile, Akmal called for a boycott against KK Mart on the issue if the chain did not post banners apologising over the incident.
However, KK Mart said it would await advice from the authorities before deciding whether to put up apology banners at its outlets.
On the calls for boycott, Loke expressed his disagreement and stressed the need to build good relationships among Malaysians of different races and religions.
Loke also revealed that he had contacted KK Mart founder and group executive chairperson KK Chai, and helped him arrange a meeting with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to explain the matter.
“While the convenience store is at fault, they have promptly apologised publicly and the authorities are still investigating the matter.
"That’s why we disagree with Akmal’s actions and I believe other DAP leaders such as Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii and Taping MP Nga Kor Ming have stated our position.
"We feel that these sensitive issues should be handled with more tact.”
Build bridges
On that note, Loke urged politicians to build bridges instead of inciting racial sentiments.
“In our multicultural, multi-religious society, there are many sensitive issues involving Muslims and non-Muslims, and as political leaders, we must work hard to build bridges.
"No matter what, we must try to build bridges to resolve issues and not incite things even further,” he stressed. - Mkini

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