The Iron Sword War is roiling Malaysia, but not for the reasons you think. The local BDS movement operating in the country is at the center of a lawsuit filed against it by Gerbang Alaf Restaurants, the franchisee of the fast-food chain McDonald's in the country.
Why? Many of the campaigns in Malaysia, a country with a clear Muslim majority whose residents and politicians are considered enthusiastic supporters of the Palestinian struggle, deal with fast food and Western brands in the country because of their identification with the United States and Israel.
McDonald's, as befits the world's largest fast-food chain, was of course the focus, and became a major target for boycotts. Therefore, the franchisee decided to sue the boycott movement for 6 million ringgit, or $1.3 million, for "false and defamatory statements."
According to a Dec. 19 lawsuit obtained by Reuters, which first published the story, Garbang Alaf's management alleged that the local boycott movement incited the public to boycott McDonald's Malaysia, leading to loss of profit and job cuts, in part due to closures and shortened working hours. The company confirmed the news of the lawsuit and said it was done to "safeguard our rights and interests."
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us