IT rumbles on. The on-going boycott by Malaysian consumers targeting certain brands is certainly having an impact – whether it is the desired one is open to debate.
With local owners of franchises such as Starbucks and McDonald’s having to embark on PR (public relations) campaigns or having to make public appeals to underline that they are in no way linked to or supportive of Israel in its war against Hamas, it does appear the boycott is definitely affecting the bottom line of these corporations.
News that McDonald’s Malaysia has withdrawn its suit against Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) for wrongfully linking it to Israel has sparked a feisty debate online.
Eh, McDonald’s Malaysia mandiri dan tiada kaitan dengan Israel.
Yang boikot dan mnyebabkan ramai hilang kerja tu korang jawab la esok-esok di akhirat. pic.twitter.com/Djr5ZoYNNt
— CIKY🅰️NIE (@lady_bugg11) March 22, 2024
For context, McDonald’s Malaysia is owned by Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd which is part of Saudi Arabia’s Reza Group.
McDonald’s is among the Western brands named by BDS, an international movement that organises the boycott of companies, brands and academic institutions that allegedly fund and support the Israeli regime, directly and indirectly.
A post on the subject on X (formerly Twitter) by user @lady_bug11 has elicited 490,000 views at time of writing, generating plenty of responses from both sides of the fence. The post accused the boycotters of causing many to lose their rice bowls.
Some pointed out that it was up to the individual how to exercise their buying power.
On the flipside, there were those who consciously decide to keep patronising McD’s to save local jobs.
Others said the boycott had already had a negative impact on the livelihoods of many.
Some chided the poster for cloaking her words in religious overtones.
With one further saying that a person’s livelihood was determined by the Almighty and not the fate of the Golden Arches.
Another further ridiculed the poster by saying he was boycotting the brand on health reasons. He queried whether he, too, had to answer for this in the afterlife.
Some netizens suggested a complete re-branding exercise as undertaken in Russia.
Regardless of local franchise ownership, many pointed out that they will continue to boycott McD’s as they feel funds are still being funnelled towards a Zionist-friendly HQ.
Another netizen shared a statement by BDS that said the organisation was not surprised by the withdrawal of the suit by Gerbang Alaf as it was without merit. The statement also said it will continue to target McD’s for its “alleged complicity for actions in Palestine.”
This netizen’s comment reflected the sentiment of many who are regaling in the power yielded by the boycotters.
While the poster’s language may be a tad over dramatic, the heated debate it generated shows that the issue is going nowhere. Many are determined to exercise their consumer rights and continue with the boycott.
Suffice to say, these developments are being closely monitored by the business community – both local and abroad – who will surely be extra cautious to avoid any missteps.
These will include whether to invest in brands perceived to have US/Israeli links. Investors will also note how emotive issues can greatly impact the viability of any given business.
Whether this is good or bad remain on which side of the fence one sits on…. – March 26, 2024
