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Hot on the heels of the KK Mart socks controversy, homegrown shoe company Vern’s is in trouble for its logo, which some Malaysians say resemble the Arabic writing for ‘Allah’.
Homegrown footwear brand Vern’s was the subject of an investigation last Sunday after 8 police reports were lodged against it for having a logo that resembles the Arabic writing for the word ‘Allah’. The matter came to light after social media posts surfaced highlighting the logo’s resemblance.
On Monday, police confiscated 1,145 shoes from Vern’s stores, while the Department of Islamic Development, which handles religious affairs in Malaysia, summoned the company’s founder, Ng Chuan Hoo.
The company, Verns Holding Sdn Bhd, then released an apology statement, clarifying that the logo was inspired by the image of interconnected lines resembling the strap of a high-heeled shoe.
However, the company also acknowledged that shortcomings in the design may have led to the logo being misinterpreted, and has pledged to act immediately to stop sales of the shoes and issue refunds to customers who bought them.
Police were quick to resolve the Vern’s shoes issue before it turned into another KK Mart controversy
In the wake of the recent tensions surrounding the KK Mart controversy, PDRM wasted no time in investigating the Vern’s shoe logo, leading to a swift conclusion to the matter.
Previously, the Allah socks controversy involving KK Mart had reached unprecedented levels of tension in Malaysia, after news of 3 KK Marts having been petrol bombed during the Ramadan month.
These retaliatory attacks came about following the news that socks bearing the word ‘Allah’ were found stocked on the shelves of a KK Mart earlier this March. Luckily, no injuries were reported.
The escalation to violence has led the highest authority in Malaysia, the King, to issue a statement calling for the peaceful resolution of the matter by the police, cautioning against acts of vigilantism by citizens.
The owners of KK Mart and representatives from one of its suppliers were charged on March 26 with offending the religious feelings of Muslims.
Dr. Akmal, leader of Umno Youth, had rejected the apology and pressed for a boycott of the chain, which critics have decried as fanning the flames of the issue further. Earlier in March, he was investigated for alleged sedition over a social media post showing him wielding a sword, but the matter was dropped.
However, in the Vern’s shoe incident, Dr. Akmal took a different approach and accepted the shoe company’s clarification over the issue, saying it was reasonable.
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Read also: The KK Mart Controversy Has Gone Too Far, Prompting The King Of Malaysia To Make a Statement
The KK Mart Controversy Has Gone Too Far, Prompting The King Of Malaysia To Make a Statement
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