A Malaysian court yesterday charged five executives from a mini-mart chain and its supplier with hurting religious feelings after several pairs of socks emblazoned with the word “Allah” were put on sale in one of its stores.
The case had drawn a rare royal rebuke from Malaysia’s king, who called for an investigation and “strict action” against any party found guilty.
Photographs of the socks spread on social media, sparking public outrage as some Muslims regarded them to be insulting, especially as their sale took place during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Photo: AP
Chai Kee Kan, 57, chief executive of local chain KK Super Mart, and his wife, who serves as a company director, were charged with “deliberately intending to hurt religious feelings” in the Muslim-majority nation, according to a charge sheet.
Three officials from supplier Xin Jian Chang were charged with abetting the alleged crime.
All pleaded not guilty to the charges and face a maximum jail term of one year, a fine or both if convicted.
KK Super Mart has apologized for the socks, saying it viewed the matter “seriously” and had taken action to stop the sale immediately.
Supplier Xin Jian Chang also issued an apology, saying the “problematic socks were part of a larger shipment of 18,800 pairs ordered” from a company based in China.
It said there were “only five pairs of socks” that had the sensitive word.
Malaysian Deputy Public Prosecutor Masri Mohamad Daud told reporters the next hearing would be on April 29. The five executives were freed on bail.
Islam is the official religion in Malaysia and Malay-Muslims make up more than two-thirds of the nation’s 34 million people.
Race and religion are thorny issues in the nation which witnessed deadly racial riots in 1969.
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in his rebuke last week reminded Malaysians to ensure social harmony by refraining from discussing sensitive issues on religion, race and royalty.
He said errors regarding religion and race could not be allowed “whether intentional or not.”
A beauty queen who pulled out of the Miss South Africa competition when her nationality was questioned has said she wants to relocate to Nigeria, after coming second in the Miss Universe pageant while representing the West African country. Chidimma Adetshina, whose father is Nigerian, was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania and was runner-up to Denmark’s Victoria Kjar Theilvig in Mexico on Saturday night. The 23-year-old law student withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition in August, saying that she needed to protect herself and her family after the government alleged that her mother had stolen the identity of a South
BELT-TIGHTENING: Chinese investments in Cambodia are projected to drop to US$35 million in 2026 from more than US$420 million in 2021 At a ceremony in August, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet knelt to receive blessings from saffron-robed monks as fireworks and balloons heralded the breaking of ground for a canal he hoped would transform his country’s economic fortunes. Addressing hundreds of people waving the Cambodian flag, Hun Manet said China would contribute 49 percent to the funding of the Funan Techo Canal that would link the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand and reduce Cambodia’s shipping reliance on Vietnam. Cambodia’s government estimates the strategic, if contentious, infrastructure project would cost US$1.7 billion, nearly 4 percent of the nation’s annual GDP. However, months later,
Texas’ education board on Friday voted to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools, joining other Republican-led US states that pushed this year to give religion a larger presence in public classrooms. The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by elected Republicans, is optional for schools to adopt, but they would receive additional funding if they do so. The materials could appear in classrooms as early as next school year. Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has voiced support for the lesson plans, which were provided by the state’s education agency that oversees the more than
The Philippine Department of Justice yesterday labeled Vice President Sara Duterte the “mastermind” of a plot to assassinate the nation’s president, giving her five days to respond to a subpoena. Duterte is being asked to explain herself in the wake of a blistering weekend press conference where she said she had instructed that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr be killed should an alleged plot to kill her succeed. “The government is taking action to protect our duly elected president,” Philippine Undersecretary of Justice Jesse Andres said at yesterday’s press briefing. “The premeditated plot to assassinate the president as declared by the self-confessed mastermind
RSS