KUALA LUMPUR: Corporate Social Responsibility 1Malaysia (CSR1Malaysia) has urged the public to accept KK Mart Group's apology over the sale of socks bearing the word "Allah."
In their statement, they said the store's explanation is reasonable, as consignment deliveries of goods are typically handled by the delivering company or manufacturer rather than the supermarkets themselves.
They said it is essential to acknowledge the store's apology, especially among the Muslim community, and underscored that the mistake was unintentional.
"Concerning the sale of socks bearing religious names, CSR1Malaysia takes this matter seriously as it undermines unity and should not have occurred.
"We commend the owner for taking full responsibility for the error and extending an open apology to all Malaysians, especially the Muslim community.
"Their proactive approach demonstrates sincerity, regret, and accountability. It's logical to assume that no business would deliberately engage in actions that would lead to public boycotts and harm their interests, and it was purely a mistake."CSR1Malaysia also implored all parties not to exploit this issue for political purposes.
"We urge all businesses across the nation to exercise caution and thoroughly inspect all displayed goods to ensure they are devoid of any sensitive materials or elements that could jeopardise national unity.
"Earlier, photos of the socks being sold at a KK Supermart in Bandar Sunway went viral, drawing criticisms from social media users, with some even calling for the chain to be boycotted.
This prompted the company to apologise and promise that such an incident would not recur.
In a statement, the convenience store said it had stopped the sale of the socks made by Miranosock.
KK Group of Companies founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai said he was furious with the sock suppliers.
"We are fully responsible for this, and we offer a public apology to the people, especially Muslims," he said.