In a recent statement on Facebook, Umno Youth chief Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh addressed accusations that the boycott campaigns he spearheaded were exacerbating economic woes.
Contrary to these claims, Akmal attributed the poor economic performance not to boycotts, but rather to what he described as "stupid" ministers, citing Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming as an example. Akmal reminisced about the time during Najib Abdul Razak's tenure when similar boycott campaigns occurred, yet the economy still thrived. He directly criticized Nga Kor Ming, asserting that the decline in the economy was due to ministers like him.
Nga Kor Ming responded to the boycotts by highlighting the suffering of local workers, cautioning against being swayed by instigators, and emphasizing the need for collective efforts to bolster the national economy. He shared a Chinese media report detailing the hardships faced by local workers purportedly affected by the boycotts.
Akmal's call for boycotts included campaigns against KK Mart over the "Allah" socks issue and against cosmetics entrepreneur Aliff Syukri's products following a controversial Hari Raya video. The "Allah" socks controversy erupted when images of socks bearing the word "Allah" being sold at KK Mart's Bandar Sunway outlet circulated online, leading to public outrage. Despite KK Mart's apology and discontinuation of the socks' sale, Akmal insisted on continuing the boycott.
The situation escalated with attempted firebombings of KK Mart outlets, threats against the store's former supplier, and alleged death threats against Akmal. Legal actions were taken against KK Mart and its supplier, and Akmal himself was summoned by the police regarding the matter. Amidst these events, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong urged parties to cease exploiting the issue and defer to legal authorities. However, Akmal questioned whether the King specifically called for an end to the boycotts.
Akmal's stance on defending Islam clashed with Nga Kor Ming's calls to halt incitement, with Nga cautioning that such actions could backlash against Umno. Akmal remained resolute, affirming Umno's commitment to defending Islam, bumiputera, and Malay royalty, regardless of consequences.
In essence, Akmal refuted accusations linking boycott campaigns to economic downturns, instead attributing poor economic performance to ministerial incompetence. The "Allah" socks controversy and subsequent boycotts underscored tensions between defending religious sensitivities and economic interests, with Akmal and Nga Kor Ming representing opposing perspectives on the matter.
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