The Palestinian ambassador to Malaysia has come out saying Malaysians shouldn’t boycott businesses such as McDonald’s and Starbucks for their alleged ties to Israel, and should instead focus their lobbying efforts on the US government.
Dr Anwar Al Agha, Palestine’s envoy to Malaysia, told The Star Online‘s Rahmah Ghazali and Dina Murad in an interview that the Malaysian employees of companies like McDonald’s and Starbucks, recently the target of mass boycott campaigns and popular condemnation, were merely trying to earn a living, and it would be unfair for them to be subjected to harassment and attacks from fellow Malaysians.
Although he conceded that boycotts could be a way to pressure Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza, Anwar said that social media postings accusing a company of ties to and support for Israel “cannot always be verified”.
Anwar said it would be more appropriate if concerned Malaysians channeled their frustrations at the United States government, which recently signed an additional USD225 million (RM718.8 million) over to Israel for its Iron Dome missile defence system.
“It would be better if the people go and protest at the US administration and pressure them to stop funding the Israelis with sophisticated weapons,” he said.
McDonald’s, Starbucks and several other multinational businesses and brands operating in Malaysia have been hit with boycotts, protests and sporadic vandalism and violence since commencement of the latest violence in Gaza.
A coalition of Muslim NGOs last weekend launched a month-long boycott campaign against McDonald’s, Starbucks, HSBC, Coca-Cola and Danone, among others, for their alleged ties to Israel.
An entrepreneurial organisation has called for the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to revoke the halal certification issued to companies with allged links to Israel.
“Our people have also broken down in tears because of threatening telephone calls,” said McDonald’s Malaysia managing director Stephen Chew on Monday.
“There were also incidents where our people were physically intimidated and publicly humiliated, and of property being vandalised,” he said. “Some were even afraid to go back to their hometowns for Hari Raya for fear of being harassed.”
In a letter to the media, he said: “Our staff in uniform have been publicly humiliated. Others were shunned by their peers when they went to the mosque.
“Even the children of our staff have been singled out in their schools, confused by warnings by some teachers not to go to McDonald’s.”
See Also:
McDonald’s: We are so not giving away Big Macs and Cokes this Friday
Entrepreneur organisation calls for Israel-linked companies to have halal certification revoked
The Special Branch is keeping a close eye on McDonald’s boycotts today
Month-long Muslim NGO boycott campaign targets McDonald’s, Starbucks and HSBC
