Malaysian supermarket chain and supplier to be charged over ‘Allah’ socks for wounding religious feelings

The KK Super Mart directors will be charged on Tuesday under Section 298 of the Penal Code for intentionally wounding religious feelings, according to the Royal Malaysian Police.

The offence carries a maximum one-year prison term and a fine.

Meanwhile, directors of the Xin Jian Chang distribution company will be charged with abetting the offence and are liable for a similar penalty, police added.

Islam prohibits the depiction of God in any form. Its use on socks further offends the Malay community as the feet are considered dirty.

KK Super Mart, through its founder and chairman Chai Kee Kan, issued a public apology on March 16, saying the sales of the socks were an unfortunate oversight which he took full responsibility for.

“Even I can’t accept the sales of socks bearing the word Allah, what more to print such products,” said a teary Chai.

While outrage has billowed out, some Muslims have urged the public to accept the apology and move on from the issue.

Despite the supermarket’s vociferous apology and the closure of the factory that imported the socks, Malay nationalists in Umno – a government coalition party – continue to seize on the issue.

“Akmal Salleh poured fuel to spread the fire, now with the backing of his party and many powerful players,” said political analyst Wong Chin Huat, referring to Umno’s 35-year-old youth chief.

His comments came after Akmal lashed out against critics for calling him a rabble-rouser over his unrelenting attack on social media against KK Mart, including his demand for the chain to hang apology banners at all of its 881 branches nationwide.

Islam is the official religion in Malaysia, and Malay Muslims make up over two-thirds of the country’s 34 million people.

“The issue has now been both