A McDonald’s restaurant in Putrajaya, Malaysia in November 2023. McDonald’s is one of the hardest hit by the global boycott over Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Photo: EPA-EFE
Malaysian social media users have come out in defence of a consumer movement to boycott McDonald’s and other businesses perceived to be supportive of Israel
One sore point among the public is the lawsuit’s demand of more than US$300,000 from BDS Malaysia to compensate for the termination of McDonald’s staff over the boycott
A lawsuit by a McDonald’s franchisee in Malaysia against a pro-Palestinian boycott movement risks backfiring, after social media users erupted in defence of the consumer embargo of the fast-food chain, in a country where anger is surging at Israel’s unrelenting bombardment of Gaza.
Gerbang Alaf Restaurants, the local licence holder of McDonald’s, filed a suit on December 19 at a Kuala Lumpur court alleging the boycott, divest and sanction movement (BDS Malaysia) had “incited public hatred” against the brand and damaged its business.
