Editor’s note: In August 2023, the Home Ministry banned all Swatch products that contain any lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) elements whether on watches, boxes or wrappers. Those who own any such products produced by Swatch could face up to three years in jail or a maximum fine of RM20,000 or both if convicted.
In a statement, the ministry said the government remained committed to curbing the spread of elements that are detrimental to the nation’s morality and public interest.
MALAYSIA is hogging international headlines for seizing watches, socks and shoes on morality and religious grounds.
Two days before Hari Raya, I posted on X (previously Twitter) a five-year old TikTok video screen shot highlighting a perceived kalimah Alah (Allah inscription) on Nike AirMax 270 when it was turned upside down. The M in Max appeared to be at issue.
Another shoe allegedly having hidden “Kalimah Allah” when Air Max 720 was turned upside down !
Is this only happening in Malaysia 🇲🇾? pic.twitter.com/pEkpTMFvRD
— #ThinKer (@tilianker) April 8, 2024
I was happy to note from my timeline of over 1.5 million views, 786 retweets, 243 likes and 136 comments at the time of writing with strong caution and rebuke on the attempt to ride or exploit the kalimah Allah issue by unscrupulous social media practitioners or politicians to gain popularity or optics.
I do not wish to prolong the kalimah Allah matter here but my initial reaction was how far and how long should we allow this witch hunt to continue. Firstly, I am of the opinion that no businessman will consciously insult or provoke any religion as it is absolutely not in their commercial interest to do so.
It is insane for any businessman to tread on religious sensitivity, especially that pertaining to Islam.
There’s nothing for them to achieve to “stir up a hornet’s nest,” and again, I emphasise that no sane businessman would want to invite trouble by insulting Muslims – definitely not in Malaysia – whereby we have the Federal Constitution, the Council of Rulers and various institutions to protect and uphold the dignity of Islam as the country’s official religion.
We don’t need any budding politician to swear by the sword – or keris for that matter – to protect and defend Islam and that we have full and complete confidence in our authorities, our Islamic institutions as well as our Council of Rulers to protect and uphold the dignity of our official religion.
Succumbing easily to political pressure
We must all be thankful and grateful to our Yang di Pertuan Agong (YDPA) for stepping in to put a stop to the kalimah Allah socks issue that has threatened to divide the nation as a result of the extreme behaviour and hardline stance by UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh which eventually led to fire-bombing incidents at three KK Super Mart outlets.
Now that we have gotten over the issue of the kalimah Allah on shoes, it would be interesting and beneficial to objectively discuss how best entrepreneurs who are caught in these circumstances are able to handle or pursue viable actions from a legal and political perspective.
Let’s learn from the reactions, responses and retaliations taken by both the “offenders” and “victims” such as KK Super Mart and shoe wholesaler Vern’s Holdings Sdn Bhd when they were suddenly threatened with boycotts and other forms of retaliation.
We can understand why KK Super Mart and Vern’s are quick to apologise to avoid further trouble or risk bigger business losses. As both found themselves under siege and targeted, their immediate reaction is to appease the aggressors so as to dim the spotlight on their perceived ‘wrongdoing’.
KK Super Mart has cried, apologised and made amends but this did not stop Akmal from continuing the boycott and attack. He apparently disregarded three ministers and the Agong’s call for the closure of the KK super Mart issue. He even told then 24-hour convenience store chain to explore a new line of business for he did not intend to end his boycott campaign.
We cannot blame a 36-year-old Russia-trained medical doctor who is an up-and-coming politician for having failed to fathom how much sweat and toil a businessman like Datuk Seri Dr Chai Kee Kan has taken to build his business empire to what it is today.
Even Datuk Wira Ameer Ali Mydin, the managing director of hypermart chain Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd – a business rival – has come to defend KK Super Mart out of sympathy and empathy instead of “fuelling the fire” to benefit from his rival’s predicament.
But when KK Super Mart’s directors were charged, they chose to fight the charges by refusing to plead guilty.
This raised the question if KK Super Mart’ has reversed its earlier decision of having profusely apologised or admitted its oversight upon receiving sound legal advice? Was KK Super Mart’s earlier admission and apology had come under pressure or duress or due to UMNO Youth’s attack?
Never apologise hastily
Surprisingly, all other Muslim-based political parties such as PAS, Bersatu and even PKR have stepped in to reprimand Akmal. They even asked the Merlimau state assemblyman to stop his political rhetoric and take responsibility for the rising racial and religious tension.
These three political parties have saved the day for Malaysians and redeemed Islam as a compassionate, calm and wise religion.
Noteworthy, however, is that before the heat on KK Super Mart died down, there was another viral video purportedly of a logo design resembling kalimah Allah on the sole of Vern’s high-heeled shoes. The police and JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) were quick to leap into action by seizing the said shoes and commencing investigation.
Akmal as usual played the role of “the judge, jury and executioner.” He gave Vern’s 24 hours to explain or be prepared to face repercussions.
As expected, Vern’s management quickly apologised, justifying that the alleged logo design imprinted on the sole was “inspired by the image of interconnected lines resembling a high-heeled shoe”.
In the meantime, many experts and scholars came to Vern’s defence, negating any resemblance of the logo to the inscription of “Allah” in khat.
The questions that beg to be answered are:
- Firstly, why should Vern apologise if the company is not in the wrong? By taking the easy way out of caving in to “pressure and duress” – and by admitting to a wrong that you do not believe in – are you doing justice to your trade/industry by setting a precedent of easily admitting to a wrong which you did not commit and allowing yourself to be subjudicated instead of standing up to the bullies?
- Secondly, is it wrong for Akmal to proclaim the “right or wrong” of Vern’s perceived “trespass” when the authorities, namely JAKIM and the police have taken over the issue and the matter is pending investigation?
- Thirdly, will Akmal’s opinion influence the course of investigation? Should we continue to encourage or allow politicians to make public proclamations and conclusions based on their “politically clouded” minds? – April 11, 2024
Senator Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker is former MCA’s vice-president.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
