Opinion: Allah socks - conspiracy behind closed doors?
4 Apr 2024 • 12:30 PM MYT
Aaron Colt
News and political writer. Shooting through the noise, one word at a time
KK Mart and ‘Allah’ socks (Source: Hype)
In a nation where religious sensitivities run deep, even the most innocuous of items can ignite a firestorm of controversy. Such is the case with the recent discovery of socks bearing the sacred name 'Allah' at KK Mart. What began as a simple observation by Chinese-Muslim preacher Firdaus Wong has escalated into a national debate, sparking outrage and calls for boycotts. But behind this seemingly mundane incident lurks a question that demands scrutiny: is there a conspiracy unfolding behind closed doors?
Let's look at a few things to determine whether this is a conspiracy or not:
1. Only 14 out of 1,200 pairs of socks contain ‘Allah’ word
There are only 14 out of 1,200 pairs of socks that contain the ‘Allah’ word. This makes no business sense as from a financial perspective, a company such as KK Mart would actually have an incentive to buy socks with one particular design (in this case, the socks with ‘Allah' word) in bulk as you can often get a lower per-unit price than if you were to purchase individual items. This is known as bulk purchasing. Assuming KK Mart does buy these socks in bulk, why do ONLY 14 pairs contain the ‘Allah’ word? Isn't it odd? Normally, if you want a specific design on a garment, there is a minimum order for that particular design. No supplier would just make ONLY 14 socks of one particular design as it makes no sense from a manufacturing perspective. Just have a look at Alibaba.com; the minimum order for custom-made socks with one particular design at the very least is 50 pairs.
There are only 14 out of 1,200 pairs of socks that contain the ‘Allah’ word. This makes no business sense as from a financial perspective, a company such as KK Mart would actually have an incentive to buy socks with one particular design (in this case, the socks with ‘Allah' word) in bulk as you can often get a lower per-unit price than if you were to purchase individual items. This is known as bulk purchasing. Assuming KK Mart does buy these socks in bulk, why do ONLY 14 pairs contain the ‘Allah’ word? Isn't it odd? Normally, if you want a specific design on a garment, there is a minimum order for that particular design. No supplier would just make ONLY 14 socks of one particular design as it makes no sense from a manufacturing perspective. Just have a look at Alibaba.com; the minimum order for custom-made socks with one particular design at the very least is 50 pairs.
2. The person (Firdaus Wong) who exposed Allah socks is a competitor
The Allah socks were first exposed by Chinese-Muslim convert preacher, Firdaus Wong on Facebook. It is important to note that Firdaus Wong used to operate MyKampung Freshmart which directly competes with KK Mart in the retail industry. Not only that, don't you find it odd that 14 out of 1,200 pairs of socks were found to have the word ‘Allah’ on them and these 14 pairs were only found in 3 KK Mart stores out of 800 branches nationwide? That Firdaus Wong just so happens to find a pair of these socks in a branch that actually stocked it? It is also important to note that Firdaus Wong is a celebrity preacher and has a history of bringing up the 2Rs (race and religion) to gain relevancy. Just have a look at this video of his where he said that the Chinese are hypocrites, the Chinese think of Malay (and Islam as a whole) as ‘terrible’ and that the Chinese are proud of their 5,000 years of civilization even though part of its history is built on betrayal, bloodshed among others.
The Allah socks were first exposed by Chinese-Muslim convert preacher, Firdaus Wong on Facebook. It is important to note that Firdaus Wong used to operate MyKampung Freshmart which directly competes with KK Mart in the retail industry. Not only that, don't you find it odd that 14 out of 1,200 pairs of socks were found to have the word ‘Allah’ on them and these 14 pairs were only found in 3 KK Mart stores out of 800 branches nationwide? That Firdaus Wong just so happens to find a pair of these socks in a branch that actually stocked it? It is also important to note that Firdaus Wong is a celebrity preacher and has a history of bringing up the 2Rs (race and religion) to gain relevancy. Just have a look at this video of his where he said that the Chinese are hypocrites, the Chinese think of Malay (and Islam as a whole) as ‘terrible’ and that the Chinese are proud of their 5,000 years of civilization even though part of its history is built on betrayal, bloodshed among others.
Firdaus and MyKampung Freshmart (Source: Malaysiagazette)
3. A political party diverting attention?
A prominent member of a political party was recently discovered to have sexually assaulted a teenage boy. Could this particular political party draw the spotlight on the ‘Allah’ socks issue in an attempt to divert the public's attention from the sexual assault case? It is also worth mentioning that the political party in question only won 19 out of 108 seats in Selangor, Penang, Kelantan and Terengganu. Could the party keep on fanning the flames of the Allah socks controversy in an attempt to gain relevancy and power back? From the sexual assault case to only having 19 out of 108 seats, we can see that the political party in question has an interest in keeping the Allah socks controversy alive and well. Some netizens have also speculated this to be the case and they have made memes out of it.
Political party and Allah controversy meme (Source: Reddit)
In the wake of the 'Allah' socks controversy, what began as a seemingly mundane discovery has spiraled into a nationwide debate, stirring emotions and divisions. As we reflect on the events that unfolded, it's evident that the issue transcends the mere presence of a word on a pair of socks. The observations presented here prompt us to question the underlying motives and forces at play. Yet, amidst the speculation and conjecture, it's crucial to approach the matter with sobriety and caution. While theories abound, definitive conclusions remain elusive.
In a nation where religious sensitivities run deep, every incident, no matter how trivial it may seem, has the potential to ignite passions and sow discord. As we navigate through these tumultuous times, let us strive for understanding, empathy, and above all, a commitment to unity. In closing, may this episode serve as a sobering reminder of the fragility of harmony in our diverse society.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article, "Allah socks - conspiracy behind closed doors?" are solely based on simple observation and analysis. The author presents various perspectives on the controversy surrounding the discovery of socks bearing the word 'Allah' at KK Mart, drawing attention to potential underlying factors. It is important to note that the content provided is for informational purposes only and does not intend to accuse or implicate any specific parties. Readers are encouraged to critically assess the information presented and form their own conclusions. The author cannot be held responsible for any misinterpretation or misuse of the information provided in this article.
In the wake of the 'Allah' socks controversy, what began as a seemingly mundane discovery has spiraled into a nationwide debate, stirring emotions and divisions. As we reflect on the events that unfolded, it's evident that the issue transcends the mere presence of a word on a pair of socks. The observations presented here prompt us to question the underlying motives and forces at play. Yet, amidst the speculation and conjecture, it's crucial to approach the matter with sobriety and caution. While theories abound, definitive conclusions remain elusive.
In a nation where religious sensitivities run deep, every incident, no matter how trivial it may seem, has the potential to ignite passions and sow discord. As we navigate through these tumultuous times, let us strive for understanding, empathy, and above all, a commitment to unity. In closing, may this episode serve as a sobering reminder of the fragility of harmony in our diverse society.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article, "Allah socks - conspiracy behind closed doors?" are solely based on simple observation and analysis. The author presents various perspectives on the controversy surrounding the discovery of socks bearing the word 'Allah' at KK Mart, drawing attention to potential underlying factors. It is important to note that the content provided is for informational purposes only and does not intend to accuse or implicate any specific parties. Readers are encouraged to critically assess the information presented and form their own conclusions. The author cannot be held responsible for any misinterpretation or misuse of the information provided in this article.
"...only five pairs from the bulk had the word “Allah,” not 14 as previously reported" see https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/03/19/socks-manufacturer-mulls-legal-action-against-china-supplier-says-only-five-pairs-have-allah-embroidered/124264
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