'McD's staff shunned, children singled out'

Anger against McDonald’s following allegations that it contributes to Israel has resulted in a series of abuse and harassment for 12,000 of the fast food chain’s employees in Malaysia.

In an impassioned plea for the harassment to stop, McDonald’s Malaysia’s managing director Stephen Chew said the abuse has been so bad that its staff are even being shunned when they go to the mosque.

Some of the 85 per cent of staff who are Muslim have even opted not to return home to their hometowns for Hari Raya Aidilfitri for fear of ridicule over their employment at family gatherings.

He added that children of McDonald’s staff are also being singled out in school when teachers warn students not to patronise the restaurants in the nationwide boycott over claims of Israel links which McDonald’s has denied.

“On behalf of the 12,000 employees at McDonald’s Malaysia, I am writing to make an appeal to all Malaysians to please stop hurting fellow Malaysians,” Chew said in astatement.

Chew said that other types of abuse endured by the staff include:

• Threatening telephone calls;
   
• Physical intimidation;
   
• Public humiliation; and
   
• Vandalism of property.

'Love M'sians more than you hate others'

“We can understand people’s anger over the conflict in Gaza which has claimed thousands of innocent lives. But what we cannot accept is Malaysians venting out their anger at fellow Malaysians over what’s happening in Gaza.

“Malaysians are already hurting from all the national tragedies and many other issues we are facing today. We don’t need any more hurt.

“We need healing as a nation. We need to love our fellow Malaysians more than we hate others,” he said.

Last week Malaysiakini reported that McDonald’s delivery personnel were told not to wear uniforms and to remove all McDonald’s logos from their motorcycles fearing attacks.

Some delivery staff said they have been hurled insults while on the job, including by other motorists.

A video of youths verbally abusing a McDonald’s drive-through staff has also gone viral online.

A McDonald’s outlet in Terengganu also had to shut down operations last week after a rowdy protest which saw protestors pelting stones at the restaurant.