PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on parties harping on the issue surrounding the religiously offensive socks spotted at some KK Super Mart outlets to allow action to be taken and not unduly dwell on the matter.
He said that everyone commits mistakes and any punishment that is meted out should not be excessive.
He said those who made the mistake should not be taken to task to the point of being tormented, in obvious reference to the apology tendered by the owner of the minimart chain and the local supplier of the items which were made in China.
“My advice is that one should not rush headlong or follow one’s narrow thinking,” he said when asked by reporters after a Buka Puasa gathering with media editors and representatives at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya tonight.
“The problem has happened, and action is being taken. Move forward,” he said.
“The punishment that is meted out should also not be excessive. People commit mistakes just like how we also make mistakes.”
KK Super Mart and the local supplier had swiftly apologised to the country’s Muslim community over the socks containing the word “Allah” appearing in some outlets.
It has been reported that the owner was not even aware that the socks sent to his shops were designed that way. The vendor had received the Miranosock socks bearing the word ‘Allah’ from China where they were manufactured.
Umno Youth chief Muhammad Akmal Saleh has been prominently hitting out at the company, insisting that they should provide a stronger apology.
Anwar cautioned against insulting any religion, especially Islam.
He stressed that action should be taken immediately as reports and complaints have been made on the issue of the socks.
“Why do we need to dwell on this issue for so long?” he said. “Since there are reports made, take action.”
“Let us not continue to dwell on it as though there is a catastrophe. Take stern and immediate action.”
When it was pointed out that politicians aligned to his own Madani government are persistently hitting out at the parties that committed the mistake, Anwar said he cannot demand absolute obedience in a democratic and open political system which the government is observing. – The Vibes, March 20, 2024
