verns holdings: Malaysian shoe company faces backlash for logo resembling Arabic word for God

Vern’s Holdings, a Malaysian shoe company, has issued an apology and ceased sales of some of its footwear following complaints from Muslims who interpreted the logo as resembling the Arabic word for God. The logo, stamped on the soles of some high-heeled shoes, depicts the silhouette of a stiletto heel with an ankle spiral wrap.

In a statement posted on social media, Vern’s Holdings expressed regret over the design’s shortcomings and clarified that there was no intention to belittle or insult any religion or belief. The company has taken immediate action to stop sales of the shoes and has promised refunds to customers who purchased them.

The controversy comes on the heels of a recent incident involving socks printed with the word “Allah” being sold in a major Malaysian convenience store chain. The owners of the store chain, KK Mart, along with representatives from one of its suppliers, were charged with offending the religious feelings of Muslims. The incident sparked outrage, leading to some stores being targeted with small petrol bombs, although no injuries were reported.

Religion is a sensitive topic in Malaysia, where Muslims make up two-thirds of the population of 34 million, alongside significant ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. The Arabic word “Allah,” meaning God, is considered sacrosanct by Malaysian Muslims, who found the association of the word with feet offensive.

The controversy surrounding Vern’s Holdings’ logo was brought to light by social media posts highlighting its resemblance to the Arabic word for God. Following public complaints, religious authorities and police have initiated investigations into the matter.

Meanwhile, tensions persist over the earlier incident involving KK Mart. The store chain’s management has claimed that the supplier sent items that were not agreed upon, including the controversial socks. The founder of the supply company has issued an apology, attributing the incident to carelessness in inspection, as the socks were imported from China as part of a larger shipment.In a related development, the leader of a youth wing of a Malay nationalist party in Malaysia’s government has called for a boycott of KK Mart and is under investigation for alleged sedition following a social media post where he was seen wielding a sword. Critics view this move as an attempt by the party to regain support among ethnic Malays following significant losses in the last general elections.