Socks issue: Rein in rabble-rousers in govt, urges Rafidah

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has called on Putrajaya to rein in rabble-rousers within the government from stoking further tension on the socks issue.

Although the former minister did not mention names, she appeared to be targeting Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over his hardline stance on the “Allah” socks controversy.

Rafidah suggested that Muslim politicians emulate the exemplary restraint shown by Prophet Muhammad when confronted with bad individuals.

“The prophet has not allowed his ego to prevail.

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“If people like the Youth chief cannot even try to emulate our great prophet, in the prophet’s treatment of others, then he has not upheld what the religion expects of him.

“We do not need his breed of rabble-rousers, who will only cause fractiousness amongst Malaysians,” she said in a statement to an online portal on Friday (March 22).

Rafidah was commenting over the socks issue which surfaced last week when images of socks bearing the word “Allah” were sold at KK Super Mart’s Bandar Sunway outlet.

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While authorities are investigating the incident, several politicians including Akmal had issued several comments on the issue.

His comments include calling for a public boycott of KK Super Mart and had also called for the convenience store chain to put up apology banners at all its outlets apologising to Muslims.

Rafidah also said that many other pressing issues need to be addressed by the government presently.

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“The government must not allow itself to be in that difficult situation of having to manage the rabble-rousers within its midst, and ensuring that tensions do not escalate.

“There are already so many pressing issues to address and manage… without being distracted by such an unwarranted problem as the socks issue.

“Action is already being taken. No one should be allowed to politically capitalise on it. Society and nation will be hurt by it all,” she said.