A mistake repeated over and over can have disastrous consequences. Even more so if the messages spread, after a wrongdoer comes clean on the matter, is disseminated to involve the 3R sensitivity — Royalty, Religion and Race.
Business-wise, any boycott will reduce potential investor confidence, hurt workers and make them unemployed, slow down the economy, and cause conflict among commercial enterprises.
The verdict on the “socks gate” is clear. Stop exploiting a minor issue and making it a race and religious issue to hurt businesses. The hot potato issue has now backfired, with the social media running videos and campaigns that carry many messages like “Don’t Vote UMNO”, which only makes a mockery of Malaysia in the eyes of any foreigner, especially foreign investors.
Human interest watchdog groups have urged the government to maintain the social fabric of our multicultural and multireligious society so that businesses are not affected by extremist political views.
The King, Prime Minister, NGOs, entrepreneurs, and the people on the ground have made a clarion call not to exploit it as a race or religious problem.
The controversy began when photographs were circulated on social media showing socks bearing the word “Allah” sold at a KK Mart shop in Bandar Sunway.
UMNO youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh deemed KK Mart’s apology insufficient and pushed for a boycott. He also demanded that the company put up banners at all 881 stores nationwide to apologise for the sale of the socks.
President of the Bumiputera Retailers Association, Ameer Ali Mydin, said a boycott of KK Mart would affect investor confidence and the livelihoods of its workers, who are mainly Malay Muslims. He acknowledged that the issue was serious and said, “Stop exploiting the socks issue.” He also urged to stop exploiting the “Allah” socks issue for political mileage.
“Why is he still kicking up a fuss?” Ameer Ali Mydin told FMT. “Political parties should distance themselves from 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues and we should not pour oil on the flames.”
He said Akmal’s campaign for a public boycott of KK Mart, despite KK’s owners’ apology, would affect investor confidence and the livelihoods of the workers, mostly Malay Muslims.
“Both KK Mart and the vendor have apologised. What else do you expect them to do?” Ameer said.
However, he said, there was no need to escalate the issue, especially by those seeking to benefit politically from it.
Former Wanita Umno chief Rafidah Aziz described Akmal as a rabble-rouser the nation could do without, while former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker, who is now a senator, said his behaviour would lead to Barisan Nasional being viewed by the public with contempt.
Human rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has warned the government that failure to act against vigilante groups will encourage mob justice in Malaysia.
Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek said in a statement, “Despite the government’s seeming fervour to clamp down on social media for racial or religious hatred, they are unable to distinguish between ignorant or idiotic behaviour and actual harmful conduct.
“Why are “big shots” and vigilantes allowed to walk free by fanning the flame on the socks bearing the word ‘Allah’ issue, while unknown individuals get jailed for commenting on the issue online,” Malek asked.
“They are pandering to overzealous bigots when it comes to racial and religious controversies, despite the disastrous long-term result it may bring to the cohesion of Malaysian society. Tolerance of this kind of behaviour could lead to more drastic action by mobs later on that could result in physical injury or even loss of life.
Malaysians have taken UMNO’s exploiting the issue seriously, and two political commentators, Professor Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi and Tawfik Tun Dr. Ismail, have issued a joint statement.
“We, Malaysians of all races and religions, Totally Reject the decision of UMNO to support Akmal Salleh in the boycott of KK Supermart over the ‘stocking’ incident. We feel that UMNO has proposed an excessive punishment bordering on bullying, extremism and political opportunism.
“We honour the values of all our religions with forgiveness, compassion, tolerance, and understanding.”
The article was written by journalist, media coach, adjunct professor and author M. Krishnamoorthy.
