The people of Malaysia have expressed that they don’t really mind if McDonald’s were to exit Malaysia because of the ongoing boycott in support of Palestine. Still, that hasn’t stopped the company from trying to win back their customers’ trust.
One would think that the boycott would help speed up the process of McDonald’s outlets shutting down their operations. While the brand has faced a lot of challenges lately, it’s surprising that they’re still planning to open up more restaurants around Malaysia.
During the opening ceremony of the McDonald’s drive-thru in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan yesterday (Thursday, 4th January), the managing director, local operating partner, and the president of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Malaysia, Azmir Jaafar said that the brand plans to open 750 outlets by 2030. There are currently 370 McD outlets nationwide.
“This is the vision of McDonald’s Malaysia, and we will do our best to ensure that it becomes a reality. In addition to focussing on locations in major cities. McDonald’s is actively seeking opportunities to open our restaurants in suburban or rural areas,” he told reporters during the ceremony. The managing director also explained that the opening of the new restaurants would provide more job opportunities for locals.
This now begs the question: Will they actually succeed in opening up more outlets despite the boycott? Previously, it was reported that the Malaysian branch of the global franchise plans to sue BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) Malaysia, over the boycott campaign after Israel’s attack on Gaza intensified. Netizens were outraged after the news broke out and further solidified their stance to continue boycotting the brand.
Many said that the move by McDonald’s Malaysia would not win back their customers even if they were to win the lawsuit. Some said that BDS Malaysia is not responsible for any loss as customers have the right to spend their money elsewhere. Others also claimed that the restaurant chain had laid off many of their employees during the boycott, so how would they be able to open more restaurants if they’re currently struggling to maintain the ones they have now?
Azmir Jaafar did not directly address the lawsuit against BDS Malaysia, however, he said that McDonald’s Malaysia will continue to provide the best assistance they can offer for those in need. “When talking about our responsibility as Muslims, today we cannot avoid discussing the conflict happening in Palestine. I express our support to those affected in Gaza through a contribution of RM1 million to the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund under the Prime Minister’s Department recently.”
Will the company be able to achieve their goal by 2030? Guess only time will tell.
