PETALING JAYA – The effects of the boycott against products and goods with alleged ties to Israel have caused great distress and suffering to innocent victims, said Senator Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.
He said it was time for Malaysians to look at the bigger picture and the adverse impact it has on fellow citizens who have become innocent victims.
“Muslim businessmen, employees, and related industry workers and their families are made to suffer or are punished.
“We cannot continue to be blind as to how badly this is impacting our own people on the home front,” he said in a statement.
Ti said the inflammatory attacks and hate speeches are getting more vicious, toxic, and hateful, and social media has unfortunately aggravated the situation.
“Feeling helpless and frustrated, some individuals and organisations are reacting actively or violently by hitting out at perceived and reachable targets without consideration for fairness to their targets.
“Politicians and politicians ‘wannabes’ are riding on the bandwagon of a global movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel.
“Local workers at McDonald’s are also indirect victims of the Israel-Gaza war as they have been subjected to mental and emotional abuse.
“They have been harassed, verbally insulted, and even been called Jews,” said the former MCA vice-president.
He pointed out that the local McDonald’s franchise holders were 100% Muslim-owned, while a majority of the affected employees are Muslims too, some of whom are deaf or disabled and have families that are dependent on their income.
Several reports had recently surfaced over how the boycott against products and services linked to Israel has impacted locals, especially those working as Grab delivery riders, and employees of McDonald’s, Starbucks and Burger King.
Delivery riders claimed that their income had dropped drastically due to the boycott, while several reports claimed that part-time staff at McDonald’s were asked to stop working due to a drop in business.
“Where is the humanity in us when we are indirectly punishing our own people and industries which are totally innocent and unconnected to the conflict?
“Are we going to continue punishing our people for something that is totally beyond their control and not their doing?” asked Ti.
He said that while he fully supports the peace process, Malaysians should not act irrationally and let their anger and emotions take over, causing fellow citizens to suffer. – The Vibes, November 11, 2023
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