MALAYSIAN Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) will organise a roundtable discussion to find the best solution to the issue of boycotts involving several products and businesses.
Ikim director-general Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil said the discussion will bring together experts in various fields and Ikim will also conduct a study related to the matter.
“Ikim feels that this boycott issue should be studied in depth,” he said in a statement yesterday (May 7).
On May 4, Minister in the Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar reportedly instructed Ikim to study all views and opinions regarding the boycott trend among Muslims in the country.
Among the products and businesses affected by the boycott were the KK Mart convenience store chain for selling socks bearing the word Allah, and a list of products associated with supporting Israel, which is oppressive to the Palestinian people.
Azam said Ikim strongly believed that the boycott issue should be studied in detail based on justice balanced with the aspects of maslahah (useful, good) and mafsadah (damage), and whether the action is fair and true, brings good or invites more harm.
While boycotting can show the real power of consumers, he said there are still questions that need to be addressed in a wider context.
This includes the impact on the country’s economic progress, and the potential to affect Malaysia’s position as a trading country and investment destination.
In addition, he said the largest shareholders of some of the food businesses facing boycotts are Muslim-owned, raising concerns that an emotional boycott without careful planning will destroy the Muslim economy.
“This action also affects the employment sector, especially the local workforce. Workers who work with business entities facing a boycott will also be impacted, in terms of salary cuts or job loss,” he added. – May 8, 2024
