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THE POLICE have called on religious leaders and infuencers to help maintain public calm over the recent controversy related to the socks printed with the word 'Allah' that were unintentionally sold at a few outlets of convenience store chain KK Super Mart.
Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said that the case has had an impact on Malaysians who are Muslim while also eliciting strong reactions of concern from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Yang di-Pertuan Agoong Sultan Ibrahim.
"I myself am quite affected by this case, but when I am in the uniform of the Royal Malaysian Police, the investigation carried out must be in accordance with the law," he said.
He stressed that all parties must be patient and not take personal actions in response to the issue.
He advised religious groups to help calm the situation because action is being taken by the authorities, and those who are guilty will be brought to justice according to the provisions of the law.
Recently, images of the stockings with the word 'Allah' on them went viral on social media.
Certain politicians, especially Umno Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh, and groups have made ascerbic statements against KK Super Mart and the local distributor of the socks that were manufactured in China.
Both parties have apologised over the matter and explained that they were not aware of the wording on the socks, which were part of a supply from the foreign manufacturer containing an assortment of socks with different designs.
It has been reported that the police found only five pairs of the contentious socks in KK Mart's premises.
Mohd Shuhaily warned that the police will take stern action against individuals who take the law into their own hands.
He urged the public to be patient and put full faith in the investigations and measures carried out by the authorities.
Earlier today, an IT technician was sentenced to six months in prison and fined RM12,000 over online messages he had made on the issue of the socks.
In pleading guilty, Chiok Wai Loong, 34, appealed to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court not to be sent to jail as he did not want to lose his job.
"I didn't mean to. I just wanted to be a 'keyboard warrior'. I didn't know that word was sensitive to other people,” he was quoted as saying in court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datin Kalmizah Salleh asked for a severe, appropriate punishment as a lesson to others.
"A total of 24 police reports were made by the public regarding this issue, which shows the seriousness of the postings which are sensitive to Muslims," he said.
Previously, the media reported that a man was forced to apologise publicly after the comments he jad made online went viral.
He apologised while being surrounded by a group of men who sought him out because they were unhappy with his remarks. – The Vibes, March 22, 2024