PETALING JAYA: A McDonald’s billboard in Sungai Petani, Kedah, has been vandalised in the latest such incident against American companies following Washington’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza.
The signboard announcing an upcoming McDonald’s drive-thru facility was found spray-painted with the phrases “Boikot pembunuh (Boycott killers)”, “Darah Palestin di tangan kamu (Palestine’s blood is on your hands)” and “Bebaskan anak Palestin (Free Palestinians)”.
Kuala Muda police chief Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail told FMT that a probe is being conducted under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief, which provides for a jail term of between one year and five years and a fine, or both, if convicted.
“We have recorded statements from three people. No arrests have been made so far,” he said.
“The vandalised billboard was first noticed on April 19 and it was dismantled before a police report was lodged on April 22.”
A photo of the vandalised billboard went viral after it was posted on a Facebook page called “Kedah Version” on April 20.
McDonald’s has become the target of a boycott since its franchisee in Israel announced that it would donate free meals to the Israeli military amid the Gaza war.
Earlier this month, a family who went to dine at a McDonald’s outlet in Kuantan, Pahang, was threatened by a group of men who were campaigning to boycott the fast food chain.
In separate incidents, McDonald’s and Starbucks outlets in Tawau, Sabah, were spray painted with the words “boikot (boycott)” and the phrase “free Palestine”.
Several people have been arrested in connection with the incidents in Tawau and Kuantan.
Last week, religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar told those taking part in boycotts of brands purportedly linked to Israel not to take “excessive and extreme” action.
