Malaysian executives charged over ‘Allah’ socks

A Malaysian court yesterday charged five executives from a mini-mart chain and its supplier with hurting religious feelings after several pairs of socks emblazoned with the word “Allah” were put on sale in one of its stores.

The case had drawn a rare royal rebuke from Malaysia’s king, who called for an investigation and “strict action” against any party found guilty.

Photographs of the socks spread on social media, sparking public outrage as some Muslims regarded them to be insulting, especially as their sale took place during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Chai Kee Kan, 57, chief executive of local chain KK Super Mart, and his wife, who serves as a company director, were charged with “deliberately intending to hurt religious feelings” in the Muslim-majority nation, according to a charge sheet.

Three officials from supplier Xin Jian Chang were charged with abetting the alleged crime.

All pleaded not guilty to the charges and face a maximum jail term of one year, a fine or both if convicted.

KK Super Mart has apologized for the socks, saying it viewed the matter “seriously” and had taken action to stop the sale immediately.

Supplier Xin Jian Chang also issued an apology, saying the “problematic socks were part of a larger shipment of 18,800 pairs ordered” from a company based in China.

It said there were “only five pairs of socks” that had the sensitive word.

Malaysian Deputy Public Prosecutor Masri Mohamad Daud told reporters the next hearing would be on April 29. The five executives were freed on bail.

Islam is the official religion in Malaysia and Malay-Muslims make up more than two-thirds of the nation’s 34 million people.

Race and religion are thorny issues in the nation which witnessed deadly racial riots in 1969.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in his rebuke last week reminded Malaysians to ensure social harmony by refraining from discussing sensitive issues on religion, race and royalty.

He said errors regarding religion and race could not be allowed “whether intentional or not.”