THE DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) has condemned the act of violence this morning (March 26) when a petrol bomb was hurled at a KK Mart in Perak which is likely in response to the recent “Allah” socks controversy.
Calling for the authorities to fully investigate the matter, DAPSY chief Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen said while they respect the seriousness and sensitivity of the controversy, nothing justifies such an act of violence regardless the difference in opinion.
“This should not have happened in a supposedly peaceful and moderate Malaysia where we all of different races and religion have learnt to live in harmony for decades,” the Bandar Kuching MP said in a statement.
According to Dr Yii, the situation is indirectly caused by the current situation where certain leaders who – instead of finding a constructive resolution to the matter – had chose to “fan the flames of division and escalate the problem”.
“They cannot wash their hands clean of this matter and are indirectly responsible for it escalating it until where it is now,” he stressed.
“The authorities have already taken all steps in investigating the matter and today certain individuals involved have been charged in court.
“Whether we agree with such a step or not, the court will be the best platform to prove and resolve the matter based on real facts and evidence rather than emotions from certain groups of people.”
At 5am this morning, a petrol bomb was hurled at a KK Mart convenience store in Bidor, Perak, reported China Press.
However, the petrol bomb which landed at an empty area in front of the Jalan Bruseh outlet did not ignite and no one was hurt.
Store employees at the outlet reported the incident to the authorities as soon as it happened, the daily said.
The convenience store chain has recently been hit with boycott calls after socks with the word Allah were sold at one of its outlets in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.
Apologising repeatedly, KK Mart said its supplier, who has a consignment shelf at the store, had placed the socks there by mistake.
The supplier, Batu Pahat footwear manufacturer Xin Jiang Chang Sdn Bhd, said an exporter in China had wrongly sent them the socks.
KK Mart Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Chai Kee Kan and his wife Loh Siew Mui in her capacity as company director claimed trial to a charge of deliberately hurting religious feelings at the Shah Alam Sessions Court this morning.
Chai, better known as KK Chai, and Loh were charged before judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir under Section 298 of the Penal Code which stipulates offences related to deliberately hurting the religious feelings of others and carries a punishment of up to one year in jail, a fine, or both.
Three other individuals, who are the directors of Xin Jiang Chang Sdn Bhd were also slapped with criminal charges in relation to the case. – March 26, 2024
