NIBONG TEBAL: Dr Muhammad Akmal Salleh is not toning down on the 'Allah' socks controversy.
Instead, the Umno Youth chief turned his attention to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, asking the party not to turn the matter into a racial issue.
He stressed that this was not a political issue to score mileage but one concerning Muslims and protecting their religion.
"The one making the relationship (between component parties) murky is not me. The one turning this into a racial issue is DAP and not me.
"This concerns KK (Super Mart) and the Muslims. I am calling for boycott of KK (Supermart), not race, not religion.
"Loke asked if I would do the same if this was a Muslim company. I answered him it will be the same and even worse.
"So, I want to tell DAP not to turn this into a racial issue. This is between the Muslims and KK. We want stern action to be taken to prevent a recurrence of similar incident," he told newsmen here tonight.
He was met at the Santunan Kasih Ramadan event at Masjid Al-Amin Simpang Tiga here.
Yesterday, Loke said political leaders should always build bridges and lead society in a harmonious way.
He said the controversy involving socks imprinted with the word 'Allah' and Dr Akmal's call for a boycott of the KK Super Mart chain which sold the items should be handled in a better way instead of the manner it was being managed now.
"We don't agree with Umno Youth's approach. We feel that sensitive issues should be handled with more care.
"These issues will happen from time to time and it is important that we build trust, good relationships and understanding between different faiths, different religions and different races.
"I would like to ask Akmal, if this were to happen to a Muslim-owned store or chain, what would be his reaction?
"Yes, there was a mistake, they (KK Super Mart) admitted it and their immediate reaction was to apologise publicly. When that apology is made, we should try to solve the issue well," Loke was quoted as saying.
Akmal also advised Loke that unity among component parties was when one does not touch on the sensitivity of Muslims and Islam.
"Don't touch on this and we will not touch you.
"It is that simple," he added, noting that he would do the same even if he was not the Umno Youth chief.
Akmal also reiterated that he would not move even an inch on that matter.
He said he had received support from the party's supreme council for what he is doing.
He said even party president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had not said anything to him.
"This means we are on the right track.
"And I will stick to my principle to bring the voices of the people," he stressed.
He also said they would await the outcome of investigations into the case and called for stern action.
