As a public figure and company executive, it is important to remain mindful of one’s words and actions, as these can directly impact the brand. Unfortunately for myBurgerLab, the company has found itself facing significant backlash after its Chief Operating Officer (COO) posted a controversial remark about Friday prayers.
It was recently reported that the state of Terengganu has introduced a new law under which Muslim men could face imprisonment, a fine, or both if they skip Friday prayers without valid reasons. The news prompted mixed reactions, but it was the comments made by myBurgerLab’s COO, Andrew Chong, that drew the greatest criticism. Here’s what he said:
In a now-deleted post, Andrew Chong criticised the new law in Terengganu, writing: “Wow…Slowly but surely, if Malaysia is taken over by extremism, we will become Iran after the revolution — i.e. what you see today — and that should scare everyone.” His comments, however, were condemned as Islamophobic and disrespectful towards Islamic practices.
After the post went viral, myBurgerLab faced heavy backlash, with many customers expressing disappointment over the COO’s remarks. Some even called to boycott the burger chain. The brand has since issued an official apology and announced that Andrew Chong has been removed from the company.
“Chong’s post contradicts our values, and we take responsibility for this oversight. We condemn any form of discrimination or disrespect towards religion and stand in solidarity with our Muslim community. To those affected, we extend our sincerest apologies,” the statement read.
As for Andrew himself, shortly after his termination, the now-former COO of myBurgerLab issued his own apology over the incident. The businessman stated that he had accepted the termination of his employment and affiliation, and reiterated that his comments did not represent the company. “This is my way of taking full accountability and making amends for dragging everyone else into this mess. Again, I am truly sorry for all the hurt I have caused,” he said.
Unfortunately, the damage has already been done, and the company will now have to work to regain customers’ trust, as many continue to criticise them over the incident and have urged others to join a boycott. What do you think about this situation?
Read myBurgerLab’s full statement below:
Sources: Instagram, MalayMail (1)(2), TheStar (1)(2), TRP
