Malaysian king Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar granted an audience to Chai Kee Kan, founder and executive chairman of KK Super Mart, at the Istana Negara. Chai sought forgiveness from the king and all Muslims for the sale of socks bearing the name of “Allah” at the convenience store, sparking outrage and calls for a boycott. Sultan Ibrahim emphasized the importance of being more careful about the products sold, especially imported goods, to prevent similar incidents from happening again. He urged all parties to be responsible and not take advantage of the situation to incite others, stressing that he does not want the issue to linger.
Sultan Ibrahim had previously stated that mistakes involving religious and racial issues are unacceptable and should never recur. Chai and his wife, who is the company director, were charged on Mar 26 with deliberately intending to hurt religious feelings in the Muslim-majority nation. Three officials from vendor company Xin Jian Chang, who supplied the socks, were also charged with abetting the alleged crime. In response to the incident, there have been reports of multiple petrol bombs being thrown at various KK Super Mart outlets across the country, including in Sarawak.
Sultan Ibrahim emphasized the need for all parties, including KK Super Mart, to be more cautious about the products they sell. He emphasized that imported goods in particular should be closely monitored to prevent such incidents from occurring again. The king stressed the importance of responsibility and urged all parties to avoid taking advantage of the situation to stir up trouble, expressing his desire for the issue to be resolved promptly.
Chai’s meeting with Sultan Ibrahim came after photos of the socks bearing the name of “Allah” at the convenience store went viral online, leading to widespread condemnation and a call for a boycott of the chain. Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook post reiterated his stance against incidents involving religious and racial issues, affirming that such mistakes should be prevented from happening in the future. The king expressed hope that this would be the last time he would have to address such concerns, underscoring the need for responsible behavior from all parties involved.
The incident involving the sale of the socks has escalated, with Chai and his wife facing charges related to hurting religious sentiments, in addition to three officials from the supplier company. The aftermath of the incident has seen reports of petrol bombs being thrown at various KK Super Mart outlets in Malaysia, including in Sarawak. Sultan Ibrahim has called for an end to such incidents and emphasized the need for vigilance in order to prevent similar situations in the future. The king’s message to all parties involved is clear: be responsible, do not exploit the issue, and work towards a swift resolution to the matter.
