UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s relentless call for a boycott against KK Mart will not win back Malay support for the party, said a political analyst.

At the same time, a business group warned that boycott calls will have far-reaching implications on the economy and businesses generally.

With three KK Mart stores being the target of petrol bomb attacks so far, they fear things can only get out of hand and lead to something more sinister in the country.

Political analyst Hisomudin Bakar said Akmal’s harping on the issue will not rekindle the lost love of the Malay community for Umno.

He said that Akmal’s call for the boycott movement was “boring”. 

“I sympathise with Akmal because he is trying hard to restore Umno’s Malay support.

“But making a meal of the socks issue through a boycott campaign and Akmal’s emotional ‘war’ doesn’t seem to have much impact. 

“Only a few will be taken by such calls. The silent majority is a large group, and on this issue, they will not participate, unlike the boycott against Israeli products. 

“Hence, the call from Akmal to boycott KK Mart stores is quite boring,” the Ilham Centre executive director told The Malaysian Insight.

KK Mart has been under the spotlight after socks bearing the word “Allah” were found being sold at one of its outlets in Bandar Sunway.

Its founder KK Chai and his wife Loh Siew Mui, who is the company director, have claimed trial in court to a charge of wounding religious feelings. They have also apologized over the issue.

Akmal had been at the forefront of wanting KK Mart and its owners punished and had called for a boycott.

He had then threatened a stronger boycott if the convenience store chain failed to put up banners at all of its 881 stores nationwide to apologise for the sale of the socks after declaring the initial apology by the company insufficient.

The anger against KK Mart has so far seen three outlets being hit with petrol bombs, with the latest incident being in Kuching, Sarawak, on Sunday.

The first and second incidents happened in Perak and Pahang on March 26 and 29 respectively.

So far no arrests have been made but the police are investigating the attacks.

No support from allies, PAS

Hisomudin said Akmal’s quest for a boycott, in trying to win Malay hearts, was nothing but futile.

He said the largest Malay party in the nation has already lost its “power” with the community. 

“This fact is clearly seen in the results of the 15th general election and the last six state elections. 

“Such an extreme line of campaigning coming from a party whose majority has dwindled will not be able to attract the majority of Malay-Muslims,” he said.

He said that in the past, Umno had tried similar tactics, pointing at Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Yunos’ various protests and antics.

“Jamal was at the frontline, attacking the then Pakatan Rakyat government with the violent demonstration in front of the Selangor State Secretariat (SUK) building and even showing up in towel and toothbrushes when there was no water in the state. 

“In addition, the Red Shirt movement was also hot at that time. However, Selangor Umno still lost when it came to the battle on the ballot paper. 

“In fact, the far-right movement had no effect on the majority of Malay voters in Selangor,” he said.

Akmal’s call for a boycott also did not get any support from PAS, indicating that the party that retains the support of the majority of Malay voters are not together in this quest with Akmal. 

Likewise, Umno’s ally PKR had also called on Akmal to tone down. Earlier this week, PKR Youth urged Akmal to take responsibility and stop the rhetoric on the KK Mart socks issue.

PKR Youth information chief Nabil Hakimi said a politician should help calm the situation and not exacerbate it.

Hisomudin, meanwhile, said Akmal’s actions could possibly spark a backlash towards the unity government in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baru by-election, especially from non-Malay voters. 

“The reaction of the non-Malay voters would be interesting to note now that Umno is part of the unity government,” he said. 

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng had urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to call for an emergency meeting of the National Security Council following the latest petrol bomb attacks on KK Mart outlets.

“The prime minister should summon an emergency National Security Council meeting to adopt urgent measures and prevent any escalation that would jeopardise peace and harmony in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society,” former finance minister Lim said in a statement.

Lim added that Akmal’s continuous harping on the “Allah socks” issue only increased the tensions in the country.

Far-reaching implications

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) urged all parties to stop boycotting KK Mart.

Its president Senator Low Kian Chuan said irresponsible and reckless acts must be stopped to avoid the matter from being further escalated and cause more racial tension.

From the standpoint of the business community, Low said that the public should treat the issue rationally and avoid boycotts against businesses.

He added that the matter was before the courts now and should be allowed to be dealt with by judicial procedures.

“Boycotts would cause far-reaching implications on the economy and businesses. It not only hurts the company itself, but may also lead to layoffs, and ultimately innocent employees will be the victims,” he said.

He added that the boycott may also significantly tarnish the image of the country, deter foreign investment, and undermine the government’s greater efforts to attract investment and expand the country’s economic growth. – April 3, 2024.