‘Allah’ socks supplier hangs up apology banner after protest

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The supplier of the controversial ”Allah” socks has followed up its apology statement yesterday by hanging an apology banner at its factory in Batu Pahat, Johor.

Oriental Daily News

According to Oriental Daily News, this was after several NGOs had a flash mob protest in front of Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd’s factory yesterday.

Following police mediation, the group submitted their demands to the company’s representatives, including hanging an apology banner in front of the factory for one month and recording an apology video for social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

They also want the company to make donations to orphanages, Islamic schools or other organisations for the needy in the area.

In the banner sighted today, Xin Jian Chang apologised and promised to uphold its commitment to ensure the sensitivity of the multi-religious society is preserved, maintain harmony and enhance quality-control efforts.

Oriental Daily also reported that the factory has been temporarily closed from today for the safety of the factory and its staff.

Oriental Daily News

During a visit this afternoon, the Chinese daily’s reporters found the factory doors locked and there were no signs of work being carried out.

The closure of the factory in the Sri Gading industrial area in Batu Pahat was carried out a day after the management issued a statement regarding concerns about the leakage of personal data of its employees and threats to burn down the premises.

The closure notice was communicated through a notice posted at the main entrance without specifying the date for resumption of operations.

The closure is believed to be aimed at calming the situation and ensuring the safety of workers following pressure and demands to publicly apologize for its actions.

In its statement, Xin Jian Chang reiterated its apology over the matter and stressed that it was never the company’s intention to produce or distribute the offensive product.

However, the supplier of the socks also expressed grave concern over the sharing of sensitive personal data of its key officers on social media amid the brouhaha over the matter.

It also rued intimidation over the issue, including the threat of arson against the company.

The controversy surfaced last week when images of the socks bearing the word “Allah” being sold at the Bandar Sunway outlet of the KK Mart went viral on social media.

Following the uproar, KK Mart issued an apology to all its customers, particularly the Muslim community, and confirmed that immediate actions had been taken to halt the sale of the socks.

This included terminating its contract with Xin Jian Chang.

The supplier had, in turn, blamed manufacturers in China for wrongly sending the socks to it, which it then overlooked.

Police, in an inspection of the Xin Jian Chang factory, said it had only found five pairs of the “Allah” socks, all of which were the ones recalled from KK Mart.