In a press release issued on Friday, the fast food chain said it has been transparent and consistent in its position that it doesn’t support or tolerate the present conflict in Gaza.
“Like all Malaysians, we express our deepest sympathies to the innocent victims in Gaza. We have donated 1 million ringgit ($217,627) to the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund launched by the government and will continue to pray for an end to the conflict and continued peace in Gaza,” he added.
McDonald’s Malaysia reiterated that it does not contribute any profits, royalties or franchise fees from restaurant operations to support any political cause or conflict in any part of the world.
“While we understand and respect that the act of boycotting is an individual decision, we believe it should be based on true facts and not false allegations,” the corporate said.
A Malaysian bank is advising investors to sell Starbucks shares as a part of the boycott
A Malaysian bank is advising investors to sell Starbucks shares as a part of the boycott
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia said Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd, the chain’s licensee in Southeast Asia, issued a summons to the group in November.
Gerbang Alaf Restaurants also alleged that BDS Malaysia incited the general public to boycott McDonald’s Malaysia, which led to, amongst other things, to lack of profits and job cuts in consequence of closures and reduced opening hours. The company sought compensation of 6 million ringgit ($1.31 million).
“They [McDonald’s Malaysia] They claim that their company has suffered recently and so they blame us. We categorically deny this and have subsequently decided to depart the choice to the court on this matter,” BDS Malaysia said in a press release shared on the movement’s X (formerly Twitter) account.
McDonald’s, together with other U.S.-linked fast food chains and types, has been the topic of an enormous boycott by Malaysians over the past few months since Israel launched an attack on Gaza in October, in retaliation for a deadly Hamas attack on a music festival and village in southern Israel.
In a subsequently deleted Facebook post on November 3, McDonald’s Malaysia – through its chief technology officer Zaid Hasman – suggested the federal government take legal motion under the Sedition Act against about 60 people it said had defamed the brand in recent weeks.
The fast food giant has also been criticized for decorating its Malaysian restaurants with balloons in Palestinian colours, which the general public sees as hypocrisy.
Malaysia ‘can cope’ with losses from Israeli cargo ban as Anwar stays unchanged on Gaza
Malaysia ‘can cope’ with losses from Israeli cargo ban as Anwar stays unchanged on Gaza
The Malaysian government has been conducting an aggressive campaign each at home and abroad to demand a ceasefire and urgent humanitarian aid for the Palestinians.
Additional reporting by Reuters, SCMP’s Asia division
