Ismail said in a plural society, it was important to respect one another and understand the different cultures to prevent incidents such as the “Allah” socks controversy from recurring.

“When it comes to religious matters, it’s not just Islam. We need to respect the other religions.

“We (Muslims) can’t demand that others (non-Muslims) respect us. We, too, must respect them. Sometimes we need to put ourselves in the shoes of others,” he told FMT in a special interview.

He said if the socks that were sold at KK Mart had carried the images of a deity or other Gods, non-Muslims would not have compromised on such matters, either.

“We need to tread carefully when it comes to religious issues.”

The controversy arose after photographs of the socks, sold at KK Mart’s Bandar Sunway store, appeared on social media, earning the ire of the Muslim community and sparking calls for a boycott.

The company subsequently apologised while KK Mart’s founder and director claimed trial to wounding religious feelings. Three officers from Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, the Batu Pahat-based vendor which supplied KK Mart with the socks, were also charged.

The episode has seen three KK Mart outlets attacked with petrol bombs.

Ismail voiced hope that Putrajaya was keeping tabs on the situation to prevent copycat attacks.

He said that generally, Malaysia’s multiracial society lived together in harmony.

It was this factor that led him to introduce the “Keluarga Malaysia” concept when he was appointed the country’s ninth prime minister, he added.

“Our diversity is unique and should be celebrated. It should be the pride of our nation.”