The Malaysian convenience store chain KK Mart and its owners have been charged with offending the religious feelings of Muslims after socks printed with the word “Allah” were found for sale on its shelves. The owners, Chai Kee Kan and Loh Siew Mui, pleaded not guilty to the charges and blamed their supplier for sending products they had not agreed to stock. The issue arose due to the offensive nature perceived by many Malaysian Muslims in associating the word “Allah” with feet, as it is an Arabic word for God. Religious feelings are a sensitive issue in Malaysia, where Muslims make up a majority of the population, with large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.
The word “Allah” holds high esteem in the eyes of Muslims, and the act of placing it on socks was deemed insulting. The Minister for Religious Affairs and other Islamic scholars expressed their disapproval over this issue. Alwani Ghazali, a senior Islamic lecturer at Malaya University, mentioned that associating the word with feet holds a demeaning connotation as feet are considered to be of a lowly status in Islamic culture. The founder of the supplier that provided the socks, Xin Jian Chang, and his family members were also charged with abetting the offense. They have apologized for their negligence in inspecting the imported socks from China, though the issue has caused significant backlash.
If found guilty, the defendants could face up to a year in jail, a fine, or both. KK Mart, a major convenience store chain with 810 stores domestically and employees numbering in the thousands, has experienced further repercussions due to the controversy. The store has sued the supplier for “sabotage,” citing losses and damage to the chain’s reputation. Due to the crisis, KK Mart had to cancel a planned listing on the Malaysian stock exchange. The issue has also led to calls for a boycott of the store by a political party in the Prime Minister’s coalition and a warning from Malaysia’s king regarding racial harmony.
The founder of KK Mart stated that the socks were placed on their shelves by Xin Jian Chang, who rented shelf space in their outlets. Only a small number of “Allah” socks were found in three KK Mart stores. Additionally, two individuals were charged, sentenced to jail, and fined for making insensitive comments online about the issue and insulting Islam. While there have been calls for stern action, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged the public not to escalate the situation and to move on. The controversy highlights the delicate balance of religious sensitivities in Malaysia and the potential ramifications for businesses and individuals involved in such sensitive issues.
