From socks to soles: What’s with the logo concern on Vern’s shoes?

SHAH ALAM – Just as the dust begins to settle on the contentious issue of KK Mart's Allah socks, another incident has reignited a heated debate across the nation.

The issue arose when a three-minute video went viral on social media over the weekend in which a man claimed that the shoes he purchased displayed a logo believed to resemble the word "Allah”.

Vern’s Holding Sdn Bhd immediately issued a public apology after the claims went viral.

The company had clarified that the logo was inspired by the image of interconnected lines resembling a high-heeled shoe.

It had however acknowledged that the logo imprinted on the sole of the shoes could be misinterpreted, particularly by members of the Muslim community and expressed regret for any offence caused.

In response to the growing backlash, Vern’s Holding swiftly announced that it would cease the sale of the shoes and offer refunds to affected customers.

The company emphasised that there was no intention to disrespect or insult any religion or belief through the logo's design.

“We have absolutely no intention of designing a logo aimed at belittling or insulting any religion or belief.

“The management would like to humbly apologise and seek forgiveness. We hope for compassion so we can rectify this mistake,” the statement said.

Vern’s Holding also said the incident was a valuable lesson for the company to be more careful when making any decisions.

Once the controversy erupted, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar had also announced that the Islamic development department (Jakim) would launch an investigation into the matter to ensure compliance with religious sensitivities.

He urged all parties to remain calm and provide space for authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain disclosed that eight police reports have been filed nationwide regarding the company's logo, citing potential violations of laws pertaining to religious sensitivities and communications offences.

“An investigation paper has been initiated under Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“The police have opened an investigation paper after receiving a report from a 35-year-old man this evening in Penang, who claimed to have seen a video related to the issue of the word ‘Allah’ on the shoe soles, on his Facebook page,” Razarudin said.

At the time of writing, police seized a total of 1,145 pairs of shoes in Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kedah.

Razarudin said police would work closely with Jakim to determine if the logo was following the shape of the shoe or was khat (Jawi calligraphy) Allah.

Umno Youth Chief Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh who was vocal over KK Mart socks issue had also called for the company to issue an explanation when the controversy sparked and had praised Vern's Holding for their prompt clarification and apology.

"Thank you for providing a prompt explanation. The explanation regarding the logo is appreciated. It is appropriate for them to provide an explanation to appease public anger," he said.

Dr Akmal described the company's response as reasonable and professional, noting their understanding of the sensitivity of the Muslim community.

This controversy follows recent incidents involving other companies, including a convenience store chain, KK Mart, which faced backlash over the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah”.