KFC was never included in the boycott list, says BDS Malaysia

The Boycott Divestment Sanctions Malaysia (BDS Malaysia) has cleared the air about its alleged campaign for Malaysians to boycott KFC.

The fried chicken chain was never included in the BDS Malaysia boycott list and BDS Malaysia never campaigned for the Malaysian people to boycott KFC from the past until now, according to BDS Malaysia chairman Nazari Ismail.

Don't miss: KFC Malaysia shutters over 100 restaurants amidst pro-Palestine boycott

While McDonald’s made the list because its branches in Israel provided free food to Israeli Zionist soldiers and the McDonald’s corporation did not block the action, KFC has not done the same thing, he added in Malay in a statement seen by A+M.

The current organic boycott targets according to BDS Malaysia’s boycott list, include McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Burger King and Wix.

Instead, Nazari explained that Malaysians did not want to buy from KFC because customers complained about the high prices of its products rather than the Palestinian issue.

True enough, according to media monitoring company Truescope, KFC Malaysia received some negative sentiments. These unfavourable discussions primarily revolved around complaints about high prices and food quality. Some believed that the boycott was not politically motivated but was instead driven by dissatisfaction with these aspects of KFC's service.

KFC Malaysia recently had a campaign that allowed its customers to exchange chicken pieces that they consider too tiny after complaints about the size of KFC’s chicken pieces being too small.

According to X user @limlipeng and @MalayFoodHunter, complaints of KFC’s chicken being too small began in 2023 with customers posting pictures of their hands next to KFC’s chicken pieces for comparison.

“Our product replacement policy has been in place for many years and was implemented with our customers at heart. We take pride in our brand promise to keep our customers happy and satisfied," said a spokesperson from QSR Brands in conversation with A+M.

In fact, it was speculated that a boycott against KFC Malaysia was the reason QSR brands were reportedly shutting down 108 KFC outlets in Malaysia temporarily amidst the ongoing pro-Palestine boycott against other brands.

QSR Brands owns and operates the KFC fast-food franchise in Malaysia. It also operates the restaurants in Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia. 

Join us on 12 June 2024 for an exciting experience as Content360 makes its debut in Malaysia! Brace yourself to join the crème de la crème of the content marketing industry hailing from across the region. Immerse yourself in a dynamic atmosphere, and uncover the latest trends with thought leaders and solution providers from the realm of content.

Related articles:
KFC MY will replace your chicken if the pieces are too small in attempt to win back consumers
BDS Malaysia brand sentiments plummet as McDonald's sues for boycott damages
BDS Malaysia sets record straight, McDonald's yet to fully withdraw lawsuit