This chapter explores the contesting religious-political discourses surrounding the 2024 controversy over some socks sold by Malaysian convenience store, KK Mart, which were embossed with the word ‘Allah’ from the perspective of securitisation theory. By examining the development of the main discourses that moved the issue from a non-politicised to a securitised one, some observations are made regarding how discourses in critical events, which can be defined as well-bounded historical episodes of a case marked by specific occurrences or patterns of activity, are transformed and mediated in online spaces in Malaysia. Key incidents surrounding the event were analysed, including the triggering post, public reactions, official statements, media coverage, and responses from government officials and influential leaders. The securitisation of discourses necessitates political action, which in the case of the Allah socks issue, resulted in the owners of KK Mart and the suppliers of the socks being charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code, on the charge of intentionally hurting the religious feelings of others. This event demonstrated how securitisation begins at the civil societal or grassroot level, with citizens securitising an issue and forcing authorities to continue doing so.

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Securitising the Allah ‘Socks’ Issue: Competing Religious-Political Discourses in the KK Mart Case

  • Charity Lee

摘要

This chapter explores the contesting religious-political discourses surrounding the 2024 controversy over some socks sold by Malaysian convenience store, KK Mart, which were embossed with the word ‘Allah’ from the perspective of securitisation theory. By examining the development of the main discourses that moved the issue from a non-politicised to a securitised one, some observations are made regarding how discourses in critical events, which can be defined as well-bounded historical episodes of a case marked by specific occurrences or patterns of activity, are transformed and mediated in online spaces in Malaysia. Key incidents surrounding the event were analysed, including the triggering post, public reactions, official statements, media coverage, and responses from government officials and influential leaders. The securitisation of discourses necessitates political action, which in the case of the Allah socks issue, resulted in the owners of KK Mart and the suppliers of the socks being charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code, on the charge of intentionally hurting the religious feelings of others. This event demonstrated how securitisation begins at the civil societal or grassroot level, with citizens securitising an issue and forcing authorities to continue doing so.