MALAYSIA: BOYCOTT OF MCDONALD’S, BURGER KING OVER THEIR SUPPORT OF ISRAEL HAS TAKEN EFFECT

Sat 04 October 2023:

Malaysians are increasingly boycotting Western companies who have voiced their support for Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas. The Muslim-majority nation has held large rallies in favour of Palestine, with the last week being dubbed as Palestine Solidarity Week.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself has uttered strong words against Israel, which has further fueled anger against the West, thus making the Western companies an easy scapegoat.

Messages urging Malaysians to boycott McDonald’s, Burger King and Starbucks are making rounds on social media. Some celebrities have also joined the fray, as they say more needs to be done than just holding protests.

Well-known Malaysian entrepreneur Vivy Yusof posted a video on Instagram, saying: “If we think we are helpless guys, we are really not… Keep praying, keep donating, keep speaking up, keep posting, keep boycotting.”

In another video on social media, one McDonald’s employee said she was shamed for wearing her uniform in public. Another said: “My eight-year-old daughter told me that her friends said my burgers are haram (forbidden for Muslims).”

On Friday, Malaysian police arrested two local men over suspicions of hacking the digital menu screen of a fast-food outlet on Tuesday. Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said police received a report from the outlet manager saying food products had been changed to show blood, bombs, bullets and the words “Proud Sponsors of Israeli Terrorism”

McDonald’s under fire

McDonald’s is facing the ire of the Malaysians as it reportedly offered free services to IDF personnel fighting the war against Hamas. Last month, the US company posted a photo of its personnel donating free food to IDF soldiers.

McDonald’s Malaysia disassociated itself from the Israel branch and said it had contributed RM1 million (S$286,000) to the Palestine Humanitarian Fund under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Some angry Malaysians are also boycotting Starbucks, because the coffee house chain allegedly sued its labour union for supporting the Palestinians.

A barista at a Starbucks outlet in Malaysia who declined to be named was quoted by Straits Times as saying: “Before this boycott, we could get RM30,000 a day, but now we are lucky to get RM10,000.”

Reacting to the reports of the boycott by Malaysians, Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali told reporters on Friday that the support from the Malaysian people was deeply valued. “Any measures supporting Palestine and its people are deeply valued. The boycott of Israeli products and franchises supporting Israel serves to minimise the suffering of Palestinians,” he said.’

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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