KUALA LUMPUR: The civil suit against non-governmental organisation Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia by McDonald's Malaysia is to protect the rights and interests of the company.
The fast-food chain, in confirming the legal action, reiterated that none of its sales, profits, royalties, or franchise fees fund any political cause or conflict.
"We have been transparent and consistent with our communications that McDonald's Malaysia does not support nor condone the current conflict in the Middle East and like all Malaysians, our utmost sympathies go out to the innocent victims in Gaza.
"We have contributed a sum of RM1 million to the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund launched by the government and will continue to pray for the end of the conflict and continued peace in Gaza.
"We further reiterate our stand that McDonald's Malaysia does not channel any sales, profits, royalties or franchise fees from restaurant operations to support any political cause or conflict in any part of the world.
"While we understand and respect that the act of boycotting is an individual decision, we believe that it should be based on true facts and not false allegations," it said in a statement.
Last night, BDS Malaysia via a posting on X, said they had received a writ of summons from McDonald's Malaysia, who had claimed that their businesses had suffered due to alleged defamation.
BDS Malaysia is a registered NGO which calls upon the Malaysian public, organisations and the government to boycott Israel and organisations that are complicit with Israeli atrocities towards Palestinians.
Apart from McDonald's, the local call for boycotting international brands with alleged Zionist links include many household names such as KFC, and fashion brand Zara.