KUALA LUMPUR: McDonald's Malaysia has no grounds to file a suit against Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS Movement) Malaysia over the boycott campaign launched following Israel's assault on Gaza.

The non-governmental organisation's chairman, Professor Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail, said the BDS movement did not directly campaign against the fast food chain giant, but instead merely endorsed the boycott initiated by Malaysians themselves.

"If you look at the BDS Malaysia website, we're not really campaigning for this boycott. It's the Malaysian people who are boycotting it," he said.

Mohd Nazari was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the six-day #Siege for Palestine protest held in Kuala Lumpur here today.

He claimed that the movement to boycott the fast food chain was amplified after McDonald's allegedly sponsored the Israel armed forces' meals recently.

He said BDS will look into holding a fundraising campaign to foot the legal costs associated with the suit.

"We will discuss this with our lawyers first," he added.

On Friday, BDS Malaysia said it was being sued by McDonald's Malaysia for allegedly defaming the company.

BDS Malaysia, in a statement shared on X, said they had received a writ of summons from McDonald's Malaysia, who had claimed their businesses had suffered, putting their blame on the non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd, the licensee of McDonald's in Malaysia, has demanded pro-Palestinian group Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia to issue an apology over alleged defamatory statements.

The company had also demanded BDS to pay RM6 million in special damages.

McDonald's Malaysia, in turn, said the lawsuit was done to protect the rights and interests of the company. The company, in confirming the legal action, reiterated that none of its sales, profits, royalties, or franchise fees fund any political cause or conflict.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/12/995929/bds-mcdonalds-malaysia-has-no-grounds-lawsuit-over-boycott-campaign-nsttv