The federal government must step in to prevent any fuelling of anger from spiralling out of control.
Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has urged the prime minister to convene an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting to discuss the escalating attacks against convenience store chain KK Mart over the socks controversy.
In a statement, the former Penang chief minister said the meeting should formulate measures to prevent further incidents that could jeopardise harmony in the country.
“The prime minister should summon an emergency NSC meeting to discuss this situation and adopt urgent measures to prevent any escalation that would jeopardise peace and harmony in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
“Despite royal reminders by both the king and the Perak sultan, as well as stern warnings by the prime minister, home minister, and top police officers, a third KK Mart outlet was attacked with a Molotov cocktail.
“What is concerning is that this time around, the KK Mart outlet attacked was in Sarawak, regarded as the most religiously tolerant state in Malaysia, famed for upholding unity in diversity as well as the home state of the KK Mart owner.
“Clearly, no place is now safe in Malaysia for KK Mart outlets,” the DAP chairperson lamented today.
Lim also slammed the refusal by Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh to back down on the issue and insistence on boycotting KK Mart.
“This is irresponsible and unbecoming of a Malacca state government leader who is part of the unity government in Putrajaya.
“Despite the denials of the Umno Youth leader of any political motivations and his condemnation of the attacks on KK Mart, the boycott has not stopped violent attacks on the outlets by unknown, dangerous, extremist elements,” said Lim.
Lim said as such, the federal government must step in to prevent any fuelling of anger from spiralling out of control.
There have been three petrol bomb attacks on KK Mart outlets, the latest incident being in Kuching, Sarawak, on Sunday.
The first and second incidents happened in Perak and Pahang on March 26 and 29, respectively.
The third attack came despite a call by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim for parties to stop harping on the issue.
Pahang’s Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had also condemned the Kuantan attack.