TO boycott or not to boycott?
That seems to be the conundrum facing many Malaysians regarding calls to boycott certain brands to show solidarity with Palestinians in the on-going Israel-Hamas conflict.
It has been widely reported that many brands, in particular fast-food chains such as McDonald’s (McD’s), had been severely affected by the boycott with pictures of deserted outlets further spurring boycotters.
This show of economic power has certainly convinced boycotters that they can force a change through their consumer choices. Opponents have argued that the boycotts are counter-productive as they affect locally-owned businesses as well as the multitude of Muslim employees at these chains.
It had earlier been reported that a McD’s outlet in Pasir Pekan, Kelantan “had closed its doors” due to the effects of this boycott with many boycotters celebrating their “success”.
However, there has been quite a marked shift during the recent Hari Raya holidays with many McD’s outlets enjoying brisk trade as many other restaurants were closed.
This was highlighted by a scathing (and sarcastic in no small measure) post on Facebook by Inter Selangor Firm which mocked the many balik kampung denizens for patronising the fast-food franchise.
The post which has gone viral and has since generated over 12,000 likes, 6,200 comments and 1,200 shares at the time of writing claimed that the McD’s outlets in Kelantan were once again filled with customers, thanks to the exodus of returning Kelantanese from Kuala Lumpur during the Eid season.
It mockingly slammed these folk as those who slaved away at jobs in Kuala Lumpur, only for them to come home to show off their new threads and rides while dining at what is perceived to be off-limit restaurants.
The insinuation by the poster is clear – too many are forgetting the reason for the boycott and give in too easily to temptations.
Here is a small sample showing both sides of the divide:
Plenty called the poster out for what they perceive as bullying tactics, insisting that it is the customers’ rights to exercise freedom of choice.
Many netizens attributed the brisk business to the difficulty in sourcing for food during the Hari Raya festivities with fast-food outlets being the only viable alternative especially for those travelling with children.
Others highlighted the hypocrisy of urging people to boycott McD’s with posts on Facebook (whose founder Mark Zuckerberg has firmly condemned Hamas actions as “terrorist” in nature).
Many netizens gave solid reasons for not joining the boycott of McD’s, citing the need to safeguard local jobs. One netizen pointed out the franchise’s equal employment opportunities for the disabled (OKU) community as a reason for his continued support.
More than a few asked if the boycotters were helping out local staff of these franchises who have lost their jobs, especially those in the B40 segment doing menial work.
Some felt the post was dripping with anti-Kelantan sentiments.
One netizen cheekily suggested a novel solution to appease the boycotters in Kelantan at least. He asked that the boycotters pressure the Menteri Besar of the state to outright ban McD’s, thus no one would be eating at the Golden Arches.
The many comments highlight how divisive an issue the boycott has become, even among the Muslim community who are steadfast in their support of Palestine. The post somehow suggests that the boycott movement may be losing steam as customers wander back into these outlets to satisfy their hunger pangs.
It also hints that many boycotters (even those outside Kelantan) lack the necessary backbone to make a lasting impact as they flood back in droves the moment they are inconvenienced.
The many counter comments also show that plenty are not convinced that the boycott is effective or indeed, warranted.
Time will indeed tell if the Melayu mudah lupa (Malays easily forget) sentiment is true or whether the boycott will have any far-reaching consequences – not just for the Israel-Hamas war but also for the Malaysian economy and the many that depend on the Golden Arches for a livelihood. – April 17, 2024
