BATU PAHAT/KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian police have conducted checks at the factory of the vendor which supplied controversial socks bearing the word “Allah” to KK Super Mart, The Star reported on March 19.

A team of 40 officers was deployed to the Xin Jian Chang factory, said the officer in charge of Batu Pahat district, Assistant Commissioner Ismail Dollah, in a statement on March 19.

“We seized five pairs of socks with the word ‘Allah’ printed on them. The products were returned by the convenience store KK Super Mart Bandar Sunway in Selangor,” he said.

“The factory’s management gave its full cooperation during our inspection. We found out that it had procured 16 sacks of socks, equivalent to 18,800 pairs, from China before the factory repacked and distributed them to the market.

“We checked every pair of the goods in stock and found that they did not have the word ‘Allah’ printed on them except for the five pairs that we seized.”

The police said earlier on March 19 that they would summon representatives from KK Super Mart and several other individuals to assist in the investigation into the recent sale of socks bearing the word “Allah”.

On March 13, photographs of such socks, which were being sold at a KK Super Mart outlet in Bandar Sunway, went viral online.

In response to the widespread criticism it drew, KK Super Mart, in a Facebook post on March 13, apologised for its oversight in selling the offensive socks. In its post, it added that it had stopped the sale of the socks.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, said all the individuals involved would be called up to give their statements this week.

A total of 42 police reports have been made involving the case, according to Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director, Commissioner Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

In a statement on March 18, he said two investigation papers had been opened in connection with the case.

“Officers from the department’s Special Investigation Unit and Legal Division are investigating the case,” he said.

“The case is classified under Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.

“We are also investigating under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for misusing network facilities.”

The authorities reminded the public not to speculate on the case as it is still under investigation.

“We also hope the public is aware and concerned about sensitive issues, especially matters that could cause public distress and involve national security,” Commissioner Mohd Shuhaily said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that despite the public apology by the convenience store chain for inadvertently selling the socks, the police probe will continue.

Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar told Parliament that the investigation will look into the distributor and vendors involved for allegedly inciting public outrage and uproar.

“If found guilty, the parties involved may be subject to a fine of up to RM20,000 (S$5,670) or imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both,” Dr Shamsul Anuar said in reply to a supplementary question from Barisan Nasional MP for Paya Besar Mohd Shahar Abdullah during the ministry’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat – the Lower House of Parliament – on March 18.

Datuk Indera Mohd Shahar had asked the Home Ministry to state the actions taken to put a stop to sales of socks with the word “Allah” at KK Super Mart outlets.

According to Dr Shamsul Anuar, the case is being monitored by the police and the ministry to ensure that such an incident will not happen again.

Based on police investigation, all the socks have been removed from KK Super Mart outlets, he said, following a check at all of its premises nationwide.

On March 17, political leaders, individuals and groups called for understanding and closure of the issue.

They urged for cooler heads to prevail, saying the episode should serve as a lesson to all to be more careful in dealing with religious sensitivities. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK