‘Let law handle socks issue’

Mydin MD: Politicians should know better than to stoke tensions

PETALING JAYA: Politicians who continue to incite communal tensions should also face the brunt of the law, says the head of a bumiputra trade association after Umno leaders continue to call for a boycott of KK Super Mart due to the socks controversy.

Bumiputera Retailers Association president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin (pic) pointed out that two social media users had since been swiftly prosecuted for making insensitive posts on the episode, where socks with the word “Allah” were printed, and politicians should not be exempted from legal action.

“Politicians should know better than to make things worse than they are, as it can incite people to get even angrier,” he told The Star yesterday.

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh wanted a boycott of the convenience store chain when the socks were first discovered last week, and he has continued to do so even after KK Super Market removed the socks and its management publicly apologised for the mistake.

The retail chain has also put up the apology on large electronic signboards and on the screens of its cash register machines at all its outlets.

Ameer, who heads the Mydin hypermarket chain, said the individual who had first found the socks should have reported it either to the store’s management or to the police.

“Any responsible Malaysian should make a report instead of putting it up on social media.

“Let the authorities investigate the matter and allow the law to take its course.

“What is wrong is wrong, but we have laws to follow where appropriate action will be taken,” he added.

Similarly, Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek questioned whether politicians who continued to incite tensions over the controversy should get off scot-free.

He claimed that the government was pandering to “overzealous bigots” when it comes to ethnic and religious controversies, despite their disastrous long-term impact on Malaysian society.

Zaid said inflamed tensions have spawned vigilante groups with lynch mob mentalities who then target individuals they believe have insulted their community.

“While one of the individuals was arrested, charged, and swiftly jailed, what action has been taken against the group that took the law into their own hands and committed several potential offences?” he said.

He was referring to a social media user who was tracked down by a vigilante group, an act that could be an offence under the Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act.

“Why were the police so quick to act against the person but have taken no action against this vigilante group? Is mob rule now permitted in Malaysia?” he said.

“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,” Zaid said, reminding the authorities that it is their duty to maintain order in Malaysia’s multicultural society.