Seized Kaaba 'floor mats' are mini prayer rugs - Aeon Big

The floor mats seized by Johor religious authorities for depicting the Kaaba were actually mini prayer mats, Aeon Big Sdn Bhd said today.

The supermarket chain also said the mats’ supplier was a wholly bumiputera-owned company that has been supplying products to Aeon Big since 2015.

“The supplier involved, A&R Fashion Collection (A&R), is a 100 percent bumiputera/Muslim-owned SME (small or medium enterprise) that supplies syariah-compliant Muslim clothing such as prayer robes, hijabs, kurtas, sampin, songkok, as well as other products such as prayer mats, carpets and mats. 

“They were established in 2007 and have been our supplier since 2015. A&R are also suppliers to other retailers and operate their own stores,” Aeon Big said in a statement.

In line with the company’s best practices for SME products, A&R used product codes in Aeon’s system that were previously used for its other products, the supermarket said.

Aeon Big said this resulted in the labels attached to the mini prayer mats showing inaccurate descriptions and causing confusion.

The mistake has since been rectified in the product management system and the description of “prayer mat” is now reflected, it said.

Earlier today, Berita Harian reported that the Johor Islamic Religious Department confiscated 11 floor mats that depicted images of the Kaaba at a supermarket in the state.

This was in response to a public complaint against the supermarket in Batu Pahat, Johor Islamic Religious Affairs committee chairperson Fared Khalid said.

The seizure was done on April 9, the day before Aidilfitri, Fared said.

He added that a statement was not issued out of respect for Aidilfitri celebrations and to prevent public worry.

Meanwhile, Aeon Big said that it had cooperated fully with the Johor Islamic Religious Department during the seizure.

The pattern on the mini prayer mat is one in a vertical format and a normal practice, it added.

“The management of both Aeon Big and A&R hope that this joint statement will clear up any doubts on this issue.

“We hope that speculations that can affect the harmony of our multiracial society will be stopped,” it said.

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