SHAH ALAM - The recent controversy surrounding the sale of socks by KK Super Mart, featuring the word 'ALLAH', has prompted its distributor to clarify that they never intentionally ordered socks with such wording.
In response to the recent uproar, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd has issued a statement to clarify the situation and express regret over any unintended offence caused.
"We want to clarify that we have never intentionally ordered any socks with such words.
"All our orders are made based on samples provided and we have consistently advised our Chinese suppliers to avoid providing us with products bearing words, symbols, or illustrations that could offend our Muslim community.
"This practice highlights our commitment to cultural sensitivity and respect in our business dealings,” they said.
Upon discovering the issue, the company took swift action to rectify the situation, diligently working to retrieve the problematic socks from circulation.
"Following an internal preliminary investigation, we have determined that the problematic socks were part of a larger shipment of 18,800 pairs ordered from a company based in Zhejiang Province, China.
"Contrary to earlier reports, it has been confirmed that there were only five pairs of socks bearing the sensitive word, not fourteen,” it said.
The company expressed deep regret for any oversight in their quality control process that allowed these items to enter their inventory.
"We have already contacted our China-based supplier to seek an explanation, and they have admitted that the problematic socks were included in the bulk of stocks we purchased by mistake.
"Additionally, we are fully cooperating with the authorities. The police have visited our factory in Batu Pahat, Johor, today, and we will continue to assist in their investigation within the framework of our legal system,” they explained.
In light of the incident, the company acknowledged the importance of maintaining harmony and respect among all communities.
They pledged to uphold these values in all aspects of their business operations and announced plans to implement stricter quality control measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
On March 13, an Instagram influencer with a following of over 350 thousand users posted images of socks featuring the word ‘ALLAH’ allegedly being sold at KK Super Mart in Bandar Sunway, prompting questions of oversight or insensitivity.
Following the influencer's post, the 24-hour convenience store chain issued a formal apology on its social media platforms and promptly removed the product from its shelves.
KK Super Mart clarified that the socks were a consignment product from its vendor, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd in Batu Pahat, Johor, and reached out to the vendor for clarification.