Ramasamy: Saifuddin would have been forced to resign in other countries for failing to foil racial, religious tensions

Ramasamy: Saifuddin would have been forced to resign in other countries for failing to foil racial, religious tensions

By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy





IT IS well and good for Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to remark that those who called for the boycott of KK Super Mart over the sock-gate controversy should take responsibility of the petrol bomb incidents.

Thus far, two outlets gf the 24-hour convenience store chain – one in Bidor, Perak and the other in Kuantan, Pahang – had been fire-bombed within a matter of week.

It might be the logical consequence of police investigation to have charged the owner and socks supplier of KK Super Mart.

But how come there is no diplomatic protest against the manufacturer in China? The fact that the socks were manufactured in China was of no consequence to UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

When challenged, he refused to take on China or at least organise a protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

The label “bully” might be appropriate to Akmal for taking on law-abiding commercial establishments in the country but not the manufacturer in China.

Although the police swung into action to charge, prosecute and convict the two individuals who made mocking comments about the socks issue in their Facebook, the vigilantes who took the law into their own hands to mete out mob justice are still on the loose.

Saifuddin, PMX are big let-down

One wonders whether the police will go after them and those responsible for the fire-bombing incidents.

Perhaps, it might have made sense to charge the business owners, suppliers and the keyboard warriors to ensure normalcy in the country.

However, it is hoped that the policy will be extended to cover the vigilantes and those responsible for the fire bombings.

Highly surprisingly, Akmal who was responsible for the heightened racial and religious tensions seems untouchable. Calling for the boycott might be legal, but the manner in which it was called was unacceptable.

Surely, the police knowing the sensitivity of racial and religion did not have the luxury of time to have procrastinated on the matter.

What if the incessant calls for boycott that gave rise to racial and religious tensions had ignited violence?

Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy


The police are not naive on the matter of taking appropriate actions before the tensions would pave way to violence in the country.

But Saifuddin as the Home Minister is a big disappointment over the Allah inscription on socks incident. He and his boss who is none other than the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was silent on the socks issue for a while.

Other than calling for the parties to cool down the racial temperature. Anwar did nothing to take control of the situation.

What is the point of Saifuddin now saying that Akmal has to take the responsibility when the situation is more or less dissipating.

Why as the minister in-charge of police, he retreated in the background to allow UMNO Youth to dictate terms in the country? If this situation had happened in some other country, he would have been forced to resign.

Saifuddin as a minister has revealed his incompetency in terms of managing the socks incident from getting out of hand.

Anwar for all his grand talk of bringing foreign investments in the country failed to restore law and order. What is the use of bringing in billions of ringgit when he failed to nip the racial and religious tensions in the bud.

This will eventually undo all his efforts as lack of political stability may lead to an exodus of foreign investors from the Malaysian shores.

I suppose the slogan of the Madani government has no relevance in ensuring law and order in the country. – March 31, 2024



Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.