Umno youth leader Dr. Akmal Saleh has defended his practice of giving 'duit raya' to police personnel, following criticism sparked by a TikTok video he posted of himself doing so in Jasin, Melaka.

Akmal, speaking to FMT, stated that this gesture is a personal tradition for him during Ramadan, aimed at expressing gratitude to the police force and civil service for their dedicated service.

He mentioned plans to extend similar donations to local council officials and the Jasin land office in the coming week, clarifying that the funds originate from his clinic's profits and not from government resources.

Emphasizing that this practice predates his political involvement, the Merlimau assemblyman asserted that his contributions are transparent.

"It's not inappropriate… It would be inappropriate if it is done secretly," he explained.

"In my case, I openly distributed the 'raya packets' containing RM20 to 420 police personnel in Jasin. It would be a different scenario if only the station chief received it."

Akmal denied allegations that his actions were politically driven, stating that he did not seek support for Umno from the recipients.

Acknowledging diverse political affiliations among the police force, he reiterated the sincerity of his intentions.

Regarding concerns raised by the Inspector-General of Police, Razarudin Husain, regarding monetary gifts to on-duty personnel, Akmal clarified that his distributions were made during off-duty periods, in accordance with established guidelines.

The Umno youth leader has recently faced criticism for advocating a boycott of KK Super Mart, the convenience chain involved in the 'Allah' socks controversy.

Despite the store's apology and legal proceedings against its founders, Akmal continues to call for a nationwide boycott, eliciting mixed reactions from various quarters.