UMNO is Using Youth Wing To Bully Chinese And Play Race & Religious Cards

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The dangers of political opportunism, boycott calls and religious vigilantism in the KK Mart issue

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Time to rein in the hysteria

Malaysia is on the verge of a descent into mob rule, and all that over a few pairs of offensive socks that had been put on display at a convenience store by mistake.

On Tuesday, what seemed to be a petrol bomb was hurled in the direction of an outlet of the KK Mart chain of stores in Bidor, Perak.

It is fortunate that the explosive device failed to detonate. Otherwise we could still be counting the cost to life and limb.

And behind this impending downward spiral into lawlessness is a man who aspires to be the leader of this country sometime in the future.

Dr Akmal Saleh thinks that stoking the fire will deliver a groundswell of support for him, making it easier for him to reach his goal.

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Who's In Charge Of Malaysia? Akmal Or Anwar?

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Umno using Akmal to play two-pronged game in socks issue, says academic

PETALING JAYA: Umno may be playing a two-pronged game by asking its firebrand Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to let the “Allah” socks issue die, says academic Tajuddin Rasdi.

He said that despite public requests to quell the brouhaha, the party appeared to be basking in its newfound popularity among the Malays.

“I suspect Umno is playing a two-pronged game. It is supportive of the unity government, with leaders in defence of every government policy.

“However, Umno saw how effective Akmal and the KK Mart issue have been in drawing many Malays to its side. Umno is actually enjoying this popularity, which it had lost to Perikatan Nasional,” he told FMT.

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Just arrest Akmal to stop his nonsense, says Sarawak minister

POLICE should just arrest Umno Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh and all those like him, who are inciting people along race and religious lines, said Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.


Akmal, the Merlimau state assemblyman, has been urging Malays and Muslims to boycott the KK Mart convenience stores over the “Allah” socks controversy.

Karim said the police should just “go and grab” him without having to consider his position and political affiliation.

“Whether (he is) from Umno (or) whether (he is) from any other party, don't bother. Just nab him," he said.

Karim, the first cabinet minister from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) – the lynchpin of the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) – to comment of the socks controversy which had triggered off three firebomb attacks on KK Mart stores in Bidor, Perak, Kuantan, Pahang and here in Kuching, said the police should instead look at the “the country as a whole”.

“The Umno Youth chief cannot be inciting (and no action taken). Anything to do with race, religion should always be avoided especially in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country (like Malaysia).”

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Police detain Umno's Akmal in Kota Kinabalu

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When will Akmal stop his belligerence?

The problem with Umno Youth leader Dr Akmal Saleh is that he is unable to let go of his obstinate determination to prove that he is the champion of the Malays and the defender of Islam.

He probably feels trapped by his actions and it is highly likely that he does not know how, and when, to stop without creating a negative impact on his own political standing and personal reputation.

To put a stop to his campaign for a boycott of KK Mart could possibly be construed as a sign of weakness, or of defeat. He has followers to keep happy and, perhaps, he is eager to show senior party leaders that he is a force to be reckoned with.

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UMNO better not enrage the Chinese for the latter’s votes are vital for the party’s GE16 political survival

THERE is perhaps a need for UMNO not to ‘over-terrorise’ the feelings of the Chinese for the so-called Big Brother of Barisan Nasional (BN) may need to depend on Chinese votes for its own political survival come the 16th General Election (GE16).

With the party ‘almost rejected’ by Malay electorate who have either crossed over to the opposition coalition comprising Bersatu and PAS or are who are staunch supporter of PKR and Amanah, there is indeed very little that UMNO can expect from its partnership with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“On the other hand, UMNO is faced with the possibility of suffering severe ‘injury’ in its own traditional turf which is ironically the Malay majority areas,” observed International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) political science lecturer Associate Prof Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamed.

“UMNO’s position at that time can be likened to that of MCA’s during UMNO’s heyday. Just as MCA had to depend on the support of Malay voters for BN to win the election, so too would UMNO have to depend on the support of Chinese voters for the PH-BN alliance to win (in GE16).”

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