What Happens When Malaysians Choose To Boycott McD's?

Malaysians have joined others worldwide in protesting the Israeli offensive against Gaza that has already killed thousands of Palestinians.

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An online campaign has been on the Internet, calling for a boycott the McDonald chain of restaurants nationwide on 8 August 2014. The poster is being circulated on Facebook and calls for the boycott to start from 7am to 7pm and it should last until the Israel regime is chased out of Palestine.

The boycott was called by Palestine sympathisers, who accuse McDonald's of channeling funds to Israel, in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Earlier this week, a rowdy protest was held in front of McDonald's outlet in Dungun.

On Tuesday, violent rallies were held outside two McDonald’s outlets Kerteh and Dungun, resulting in about 80 per cent loss of revenue at the two locations since, franchise owner Syed Hussain Tuan Embong told Sinar Harian.

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McDonald’s workers also expressed their frustration at being blamed for supporting Israel when they are just wage earners.

"I have been with the company for over four years, I am pretty sure we have no direct links with funding the forces in Israel," Siti said, explaining that only a small percent of their profits go to the franchisor company based in the United States.

The delivery personnel on the other hand, said abuses have been hurled at them while they were going about their work. "A few friends of mine have been called names and were insulted while delivering, especially while waiting at traffic lights," Rahim shared.

McDonald’s restaurants in Malaysia are taking precautionary steps to protect its employees, following an online campaign for a nationwide boycott of the American fast food chain tomorrow.

Among others, the delivery personnel are advised not to wear their uniforms tomorrow, so as to not be recognised as McDonald's employees. "We were told by the upper management to wear white T-shirts and dark coloured pants for tomorrow," Rahman Masturi (right) from the Jalan Telawi branch, told Malaysiakini today.

The riders were also directed to remove all logos from the McDonald’s 'Cooktek' bags and their delivery vehicles.

McDonald's will also be taking other measures at their restaurants if protesters, if any, turn violent. "If they want to hold a gathering or protest in front of the premises, it is okay with us as long as they don’t do any damage to our premises or hurt our staff," said a branch manager who wanted to be known only as Siti.

She added that branch managers were also instructed to close down their outlets if things got violent and to lodge a police report immediately.

Facing a nationwide boycott over alleged links to Israel, McDonald’s Malaysia today placed a full-page advertisement in a local daily to again deny the claims and to put a face to the “real victims” of the consumer activism: its mostly Malay Muslim employees.

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In the advertisement on page 11 of Malay language daily Sinar Harian, the local company was forced to repeat its previous insistence that the firm was not related to “any political activity, violence or oppression”, following accusations it was helping fund Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

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“The real victims of these allegations are friends, workers and families who are the subject of discrimination and our franchisees who are working to make a living,” it said.

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“We wish to reiterate that McDonald’s does NOT channel any sales, profits or franchise fees from our restaurants to support ANY political causes or conflicts in any part of the world. There is absolutely no truth in any online allegations suggesting otherwise."

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“In addition, McDonald’s also provides business opportunities to more than 50 local suppliers who also provide employment opportunities to more than 2,500 locals. “It is clear that any boycott will bring negative effects to the economy and the lives of some of the Malaysians,” it said.

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"Our core values dictate that we operate our business ethically and to the highest standards. This is a value that we uphold with utmost conviction. In Malaysia, we are proud to be part of the local community – providing opportunities for local franchisees and careers for 12,000 Malaysians, serving our customers with passion and respect, and actively supporting meaningful causes to enhance the lives of the needy.”

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McDonald's has also pleaded to the protesters to check the facts. The restaurant has been in Malaysia for 32 years and employs some 12,000 workers of which 85 percent are Muslim.

The company plans to expand to 500 restaurants in Malaysia and create 11,500 new jobs, it said. In 2014 alone, about RM185 million was invested to open 24 new restaurants and renovate 29 outle

The fast food chain added that it has contributed more than RM11 million to help more than 20,000 children who are less fortunate for over 24 years.

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In a statement to Advertising + Marketing, McDonald’s Malaysia said, “We are disappointed that the unjustified boycott of our restaurants in Malaysia have caused the vandalisation of a few restaurants andeven threatened the safety of our employees.”

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