Despite receiving a "final warning" from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to refrain from escalating the controversy surrounding the "Allah" socks issue, Umno Youth chief Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh appears determined to maintain his stance on the matter.
When questioned by Malaysiakini about whether he would abide by the king's decree and the Umno leadership's directive to de-escalate the situation, Akmal responded by asking whether the king specifically called for an end to the boycott. He seemed reluctant to back down, even in the face of official requests to do so.
Pressed further on whether he would take responsibility for his vocal advocacy of the boycott against a convenience store chain and step down from his position, Akmal deflected the question and sought clarification on which aspects of his campaign were considered to be "fanning the flame."
In addition to his comments to Malaysiakini, Akmal also took to Facebook to reassure his supporters, stating that there was nothing to fear as he was merely voicing the concerns of the people. He urged for calm and peaceful participation in the boycott, emphasizing that the decision to boycott was made voluntarily without any coercion.
However, Umno Supreme Council member Bung Moktar Radin revealed that the party leadership had instructed Akmal to cease his efforts to amplify the "Allah" socks issue and the calls for boycotting KK Mart. Bung stated that Umno's president had intervened and clarified that KK Mart did not intend to prolong the controversy, thus signalling that it was time to end the matter.
Bung emphasized that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's call for all parties to refrain from exploiting the issue should be sufficient grounds for cessation. This stance marks a departure from the Umno Supreme Council's previous support of Akmal's boycott campaign.
In addition to targeting KK Mart, Akmal has also initiated a boycott against cosmetics entrepreneur Aliff Syukri's products following the release of a Hari Raya video that was deemed disrespectful to the sanctity of Ramadan.
The ongoing dispute underscores the complex interplay between freedom of expression, religious sensitivities, and political agendas in Malaysia. While Akmal and his supporters are adamant about their cause, calls for de-escalation from both the royal institution and the party leadership signal a need for dialogue and reconciliation to prevent further polarization within society.
Source: Link
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