YOURSAY | Apologies made over 'sock-gate', time to move on

YOURSAY | ‘There is no room for vigilantism here.’

COMMENT | In some circumstances, it's noble to accept an apology

Mazhilamani: The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has already imposed a checkmate on the KK Mart socks issue, so let it stop here.

All retail shops have been alerted to be on the lookout for inappropriate religious words on every product from meats, dry food, and oil to everything else.

They will adhere to Jakim’s advice. This will ensure no one else will make another unforgivable mistake.

The Muslims are in their second week of fasting. Let them carry out their obligation with peace of mind and focus on God.

Man on the Silver Mountain: It is pertinent that former deputy law minister Mohamed Hanipa Maidin mentioned the Prophet.

At a time like this, he should be the one to be looked up to. What would he do if confronted by a case such as this?

Our actions must be governed by reason, which makes us distinctly human. In the absence of mala fide, and even though the operator apologised, reasonable people would have no option but to accept it.

To be otherwise would reflect a serious lack of our mental state. The ball would be on our feet, not the operator any more.

There is no way that each of the 1,200 socks was scrutinised individually before they were put on the shelves.

Besides, what are the workers supposed to look for other than defects? That would probably be the reality in a real situation.

Of course, mistakes like that should be avoided, but that cannot be fully guaranteed. These things happen everywhere.

MAT M DIN: Muslims revere the word Allah with high esteem and are ever ready to defend it, with all its might, if it is denigrated.

As the word Allah printed on the sock, it is due to ignorance and no intent of denigrating.

The apologies should be accepted, and the case should be declared closed. It also serves as a reminder for non-Muslims to note.

If this were to happen in Pakistan or Afghanistan, all hell would break loose. Owing to its emotional nature, the case should not be discussed any further.

If it is used for political gain, it will turn chaotic and spread widely to spin beyond control.

KK Voter: This mishap could have happened to any retail company.

The rest of them are thanking their lucky stars that it was KK Mart and not them.

They will probably scrutinise everything closely now, especially bundled unbranded bulk products (you never know what you’re getting in terms of brand or design in these), which make up the bulk of lower-priced items sold in some of these retailers.

Hmmm: I would have been able to understand the reaction of the Muslims perfectly if the actions of KK Mart were deliberate. But it was not.

As mentioned, perhaps no one checked the consignments thoroughly before sending them out to the various outlets.

Since they have apologised, we should accept it with an open heart and move on. If any crime or offence is committed, let the relevant authorities look into it.

There is no room for vigilantism here.

World Citizen: Hanipa has always been a voice of reason on many of these issues.

However, as you can see, our nation has been beaten to a pulp because of the unreasonable and irrational actions of the so-called champions of Islam and the Malays.

We have become a laughing stock of the international community.

These jokers have no qualms about damaging our economy and businesses with boycotts, and racist and religious polemics that threaten investors and push them away from this country.

As a person who helped bring in many foreign companies with billions of ringgit in investments here, I feel so saddened by these blind and senseless actions by some of our politicians.

What exactly is their endgame here?

To destroy the country, its economy, its peace and its people all for the sake of their political ambitions!

Are they that stupid to realise we have many competitors in our midst that investors and businesses can put their investments in or that this country can blow up into some kind of anarchy where everybody loses?

This is where we need strong political leadership at the top to put such immature and ignorant politicians like the Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and other extremists in their place.

Freethinker: The call for a boycott only hurts the workers, who are mostly Malay.

When unemployment rises and businesses shut down, the same group of people will blame the government for failing to manage the country’s economy.

The same group continues to perform economic sabotage at a time when unity and economic development are the main priority.

Pink: Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who stole billions, was given a partial pardon. Umno was happy with that.

KK Mart unintentionally made the mistake of selling some RM5 pairs of socks with the word Allah on them and apologised profusely, and some people wanted it to go bankrupt.

This is even though many young Muslim people who work there will become unemployed as a result.

Granted, the world is not fair, but the lack of moral fibre among our politicians makes it worse.

Like the case of boycotting McDonald’s and Starbucks, our Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been keeping quiet, not showing courage and leadership.

We voted for this government, and we deserve what we get.

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