Founder of shoe company has ‘cordial’ meeting with Jakim

PUTRAJAYA: The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and local shoe company Vern’s Holding had a hour-long meeting over the issue involving a shoe logo that resembles the word “Allah” in Arabic script.

Its founder Datuk Seri Ng Chuan Hoo said he would cooperate fully with the authorities as part of the probe into the logo.

“Let the police and Jakim do what needs to be done with regards to their investigations.

“I will cooperate fully with them in the next course of action,” Ng told reporters when met after the meeting held at the Jakim headquarters here yesterday.

Ng, who goes by the nickname Ah Foo, described the meeting as “cordial” with Jakim officers providing him some guidance over the matter.

Although the issue had stemmed from a misunderstanding, Ng said he is fully aware that it had caused uneasiness and hurt to the Muslim community.

“In this respect, Ah Foo apologises. I hope to learn from this incident and to be more careful and sensitive in future, especially with regard to business,” he said.

The Temerloh-born businessman also said he acted promptly and ordered the withdrawal of the shoes in question when informed by his staff of the viral video.

The issue arose following a three-minute video that had gone viral on social media in which a man claimed that the shoes he bought displayed a logo that appears to resemble the word “Allah”.

Following this, Vern’s Holding issued an apology for offending any sensitivities, clarifying that the graphic is actually a stylised high-heeled shoe with straps.

The company also said it has taken immediate steps to stop the sales of the shoes and would offer refunds to customers who have purchased them.

Separately, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Kamal called on his fellow Muslims to refrain from succumbing to paranoia.

“This is getting ridiculous. Our actions need to be based on facts and not blind emotions,” he wrote in an X post on Sunday.

The Machang MP said the shoe logo issue was significantly different from the case of the socks imprinted with the word “Allah”.

“While the offence for the socks’ case is clear, the shoe logo had no clear indication that it was against Islamic law or meant to be an insult against Islam,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said he accepted the explanation from Vern’s Holding.

He said the misunderstanding over the issue had been cleared and that the company had also stopped the production of the shoes in question.