Akmal should stop name-calling, set example as young leader: DAP's Yii

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh should set a good example as a young leader and not resort to immature behaviour such as name-calling.

DAP Socialist Youth chief Dr Kelvin Yii today said Akmal ought to have brought mature arguments or constructive criticism to the discussion surrounding the recent “Allah” socks controversy.

“As a young leader, the Umno Youth chief should be showing a good example in politics and not show immaturity by resorting to ‘name-calling’ even if he disagrees with the action of a minister in the government.

“Whether we agree or not with the action or statement that was said, as a young leader, he should have brought proper and mature arguments to the table either to refute the statement or to add constructive criticism to the issue at hand,” Yii said in a press release.

He was referring to a statement Akmal made earlier today on Facebook, in which the latter denied that the boycott campaigns he championed are worsening the economy.

Instead, it is because of “stupid” ministers such as DAP’s Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming that the economy is performing poorly, Akmal claimed.

Yesterday, Nga posted on X saying that local workers have suffered due to the boycotts called for by irresponsible parties.

“Never fall into the trap of instigators, our country needs the efforts of all parties to develop the national economy,” he said.

Poor state of local politics

Meanwhile, Yii said that one should not resort to name-calling, which has degraded the state of local politics.

“Argue policy with policy, proposals with better proposals, discourse with mature discourse. 

“Only then our politics can mature and really add value to our society,” he said.

Akmal has called for a boycott against KK Mart over the “Allah” socks issue and against cosmetics entrepreneur Aliff Syukri’s products after the latter’s Hari Raya video was deemed disrespectful of the sanctity of Ramadan.

Last month, images of socks bearing the word “Allah” being sold at KK Mart’s Bandar Sunway outlet went viral on social media, triggering an uproar.

KK Mart immediately apologised to all its customers, particularly the Muslim community, and halted the sale of the socks.

Despite the apology, Akmal insisted that the KK Mart boycott must continue.

The situation resulted in three attempted firebombings of the convenience store chain’s outlets, an alleged arson threat against KK Mart’s former supplier Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, and Akmal himself claimed that a death threat was made against him.

KK Mart and its former supplier have been charged with hurting religious feelings while the Umno Youth chief has been called up by police over the debacle.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar then urged all parties to stop taking advantage of the issue, saying it should now be left to the authorities.

However, Akmal questioned whether the king had specifically decreed for the boycott calls to stop.

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