KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh insisted that he would continue the call to boycott the KK Super Mart convenience store chain, despite a warning from Malaysia’s King on April 3 against dragging on the issue any further.

Speaking to The Straits Times on April 4, Dr Akmal, who has been very vocal in calling for the boycott of the 800-store KK Super Mart over the sale of socks with the word “Allah” printed on them in March, said Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar did not raise the issue of boycotts.

“When did the King say anything about boycotts? We’ve only asked for boycotts since day one. We never asked for anything else. Boycotts aren’t illegal,” he told ST in a phone interview.

Dr Akmal was on April 5 detained by police in the Sabah capital of Kota Kinabalu as he arrived at the main airport in the morning, he said in a Facebook post.

He was heard saying, “No fear, no surrender”, as he was getting into a police vehicle, Malaysian media reported. He said on Facebook that he will cooperate with the police,

He was released from detention, about two-and-a-half hours later, after police recorded a statement from him over the controversy. The police interview indicated that investigations against him over the issue have started.

His continuing provocative acts and the subdued reactions from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi in the past three weeks had raised questions by civil society and the opposition over whether the police sanction such behaviour because he is a member of the government coalition.

Dr Akmal, 35, who is also a state assemblyman in the Melaka legislature, even posted on his Facebook page on March 14 a picture of him wielding a sword, to say he will not back down over the issue.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told reporters on April 4: “There are sensitivities that have their red lines. There exist groups whose work is to give rise to uneasiness through seditious matters that are extreme and which are then acted upon.

“This requires action by our security apparatus.”

The King met KK Super Mart’s founder Chai Kee Kan on April 3, with the businessman issuing his third public apology over the incident.

“Everyone must be more responsible. Don’t let this incident be repeated, and I hope this is the last time I will have to stress on this,” the monarch said.

“Once again, I warn all parties against taking advantage of this incident, including inciting the people. I do not want this issue prolonged any further,” he said in a post on Facebook.

Chai, his wife, and four others were on March 26 charged in court over wounding the religious feelings of Muslims over the socks issue.

Dr Akmal has rejected any blame for three incidents that have shocked Malaysia, in which petrol bombs were thrown at KK Super Mart stores in Pahang, Perak and Sarawak in the past two weeks. No one was hurt and the Molotov cocktails did little damage to the front of the stores. Police have so far been unable to trace any of the perpetrators.

Dr Akmal told ST on April 4: “Do you know who the bombers are? Please don’t speculate or accuse anyone of being behind it or influencing... (the attacks). Let the police conduct their investigation.”

The Umno leader, who graduated from a Russian state medical university, said he called only for a peaceful boycott against KK Super Mart, and did not talk about holding protest rallies against the chain, let alone extreme acts of violence.

“For all we know, it could be parties trying to take advantage of the situation to disrupt the peace in Malaysia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Environment Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has urged the Umno Youth chief to ease off on the controversial issue.

“His aggressive attitude towards this issue has invited extreme behaviour from some individuals – including the incidences of petrol bombs thrown at several KK Super Mart stores.

“Yes, KK Super Mart’s actions have hurt the hearts of Muslims, but they have made an official apology and explained what happened,” he said in a statement on X on April 3.

Prior to Dr Akmal’s arrest and the warning by the Home Minister, Lawyers for Liberty rights group director Zaid Malek said in a statement on April 4: “Under Section 3(3) of the Police Act 1967, the police have (a) duty to maintain law and order, preserve the peace and apprehend offenders. This duty is mandatory... They cannot choose in one case to enforce the law, and in another turn a blind eye.

“Their failure and/or refusal to take action in Dr Akmal’s case will be a breach of their statutory duty under the Police Act.”

Senator Ti Lian Ker from the Malaysian Chinese Association, a member of the Barisan Nasional coalition with Umno, in the Upper House on April 3 questioned the lack of police action, claiming that Dr Akmal’s actions are “seditious”.

The continued controversy, calls for boycotts and petrol bomb attacks have scared KK Super Mart frontliners, especially the cashiers who front the stores.

Said a cashier at a KK Super Mart store in Kuala Lumpur: “I’m praying that I’ll be safe. I know people are angry, but don’t they know there are Muslims working here, and we could get hurt? This is Ramadan. Muslims are supposed to do good deeds. Politicians should stop instigating this further.”

The worker, who wanted to be known only as Aminah as she is not authorised to speak to the media, added: “What if one of us gets hurt, or even worse, killed just before Hari Raya. Can they live with that?”