A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a shop belonging to a Malaysian chain selling socks with Allah written on them. This was said by the police on Saturday (30/3).
The incident came days following executives at the convenience store chain were charged with hurting religious feelings over the sale of the socks at another store. Wan Mohamad Zahari Wan Busu, police chief in the eastern Malaysian city of Kuantan, said the KK Supermart branch was attacked before dawn, causing a small fire at the entrance.
He told AFP the attack was still under investigation. “We do not deny that the attack may be related to an incident involving socks bearing the word Allah.”
Employees extinguished the fire with extinguishers and no injuries were reported. Images of the socks spread on social media this month, sparking public outrage among Muslims who saw them as insulting, especially because the socks were being sold during the holy month of Ramadan.
Islam is the official religion in Malaysia. Malay Muslims comprise more than two-thirds of Malaysia’s 34 million population.
Race and religion are strange issues in Malaysia. Both witnessed deadly racial riots in 1969.
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KK Super Mart CEO Chai Kee Kan, 57, and his wife, who served as a director of the company, were this week charged with intentionally intending to hurt the religious feelings of Malaysians, according to a charge sheet seen by AFP. Three officials from supplier Xin Jian Chang were also charged with conspiring with them.
The five pleaded not guilty and face a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a fine or both if found guilty. This case received criticism from the king of Malaysia who called for an investigation and strict action once morest any party found guilty.
KK Supermart, Malaysia’s second largest convenience store chain, has apologized for the socks. He said that his party was taking the matter seriously and had taken action to immediately stop the sale of the socks.
Supplier Xin Jian Chang also issued an apology. He said, “The socks in question were part of a larger shipment of 18,800 pairs ordered,” from the China-based company. (Z-2)
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