KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — In a significant development following the contentious “Allah” socks controversy, Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan, the founder and executive chairman of the KK Mart Group, sought forgiveness from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim during an audience granted yesterday at Istana Negara. The meeting, lasting 15 minutes, saw Chai, also known as KK Chai, extend his apologies to Sultan Ibrahim for the controversy sparked by the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah” at KK Super Mart outlets last month. In a social media post shared by Sultan Ibrahim, Chai expressed regret to His Majesty and the Muslim community for the incident.
Responding to the apology, Sultan Ibrahim urged all parties, including KK Mart, to exercise greater caution in the products they sell, particularly imported goods, to prevent such occurrences in the future. Emphasizing the need for responsibility, Sultan Ibrahim warned against exploiting the situation and inciting unrest among the public, expressing his desire for the issue to be swiftly resolved. The controversy surrounding the “Allah” socks has escalated in recent weeks, resulting in nationwide boycotts and targeted attacks on KK Super Mart outlets, prompting stern calls for action from the King and legal proceedings against Chai and his wife under relevant penal provisions.
