Is it working? Yes. Absolutely, the boycott is working.
Starbucks lost RM29 Million, McDonalds claims they lost RM6 Million, while KFC has closed about 100 outlets since the boycott began. And these are figures in Malaysia only.
But here’s what’s not working.
Some of us are doing the boycott wrong
The Malays stand together quickly. They fervently support one another for Palestine, until they find out you work in a fast food chain.
Suddenly, you’re similar to a Zionist. This revelation came to me, while chatting with a family member. He’s in top management for one of the big fast-food chains selling pizza.
States towards the East, take the boycott almost personally.
“I have staff that do roadside selling. It’s part of our campaign to be closer to communities in a given area. When the boycott started, one staff reported to me. In the report, he said an elderly folk on a bike rode past him. He stopped, looked at him selling pizza, and spat on the ground.”
Well, at least he was polite enough not to spit on the poor guy.
“Another story I received, was a vandalism case at another fast food chain. You know the one. The big M.” He said to me. After sipping his drink, he continued.
“This particular outlet had the modern design. There was a large wall on the side. On it was a graffiti that said Fuck Israel. Free Palestine.”
I laughed and confessed that it could have been worse. But the laughter was really more for the fact that I would never believe Malays could do that. We tend to express our anger differently.
(We choose to be patient out of fear of retaliation. Only when we are pushed over the limit, for about 1000 times, then we run amok. It’s our strength and our weakness as a people.)
People who work in fast food have no direct impact on the lives of Palestinians. In fact, staff in fast food have the worst luck.
It’s an easy job with enough pay to get by. However, their political stance is decided by a small group of powerful old white people, miles and miles away.
To choose not to buy is enough. We don’t have to hate on the staff.
Racists overjoyed
My first experience with racism was with a Chinese teacher. She had taught a group of Chinese students during art class ” Don’t trust the Malays. They can never be your friends. You think you can trust them. But they will betray you. Don’t be friends with them.”
The art class had Malay students too. They just couldn’t understand Cantonese. Nor would they have any reason to. But one kid did.
And he told the whole school, including the teachers and principal. No action was taken.
During the boycott, I’d come across Facebook comments saying “McDonalds is more peaceful now.” “Good, let them boycott. I love my peaceful mornings.” “Idiotic. This boycott, that boycott. How you want to live?”
I have to admit, it’s hard not to associate racists with a particular race, if you’ve always received racist hate from them. Particularly.
But it’s very important to make the distinction. Because, that Chinese teacher may hate my guts for being Malay. But my friend, Tzer Chun, who sat next to me throughout high school didn’t.
Colleagues at work with family names of Lim or Chang, respect me. They treat me no different and the vibe is super chill.
Confused and emotional
Remember when some of us went to protest? It was the weirdest thing. And I can see the confused faces of the people protesting. Most of them know why they are there, but still look unsure.
And it’s really because, our home, Malaysia, has always been pro-Palestine. We have no one to protest against in our house. Our laws, trade, and official stance are anti-Israel.
We have no one here to raise awareness for. Those who matter, know. Those who don’t know, don’t matter.
If anything, the best way to show our support is to build economic strength. To create businesses that can replace Western brands.
Everyone is standing in solidarity with Palestine, but we’re not entirely sure what to do next.
Our politicians took advantage of the protests and made it a political campaign. Complete with a stage and audio system. It was nuts. At first glance, you wouldn’t know if this was a political rally or protest for Palestine.
Protests happen abroad because their government is pro-Israel. Their people are indifferent, or mostly unaware. Worse, they have Israelis staying there and working at the highest levels of government.
Now that is a cause for serious protest.
