Malaysia KFC's new branding strategy — more Islamic image, emphasises Johor government ownership

Kentucky Fried Chicken, better known as KFC, has reduced its operations in Malaysia, shuttering more than 100 restaurants temporarily after months of a persistent pro-Palestine boycott of US-linked businesses triggered by the ongoing war in Gaza.

A KFC outlet in Jalan Ipoh in Kuala Lumpur has a notice to say “temporarily closed”, affixed on the door. STRAITS TIMES PICTURE BY ZUNAIRA SAIEED

Referring to Chinese-language daily Nanyang Siang Pau, news agency and portal The Straits Times reported, QSR Brands, which owns and operates the KFC fast-food franchise in Malaysia, is suspending operations of 108 outlets nationwide, based on information from Google Maps.

Empty boxes and a deserted shop lot are all of what remains of a formerly thriving KFC outlet in Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur. STRAITS TIMES PICTURE BY ZUNAIRA SAIEED

The maps show which KFC stores have had their status updated to show “temporarily closed”.

A source at QSR, who declined to be named, said the company sees the boycott as an opportunity to cease some of the KFC store operations that have weighed on its balance sheet.

QRS issued a statement on April 29 saying that “in response to challenging economic conditions”, it has taken proactive measures to temporarily close outlets in order to manage growing business costs and focus on the busier KFC stores.

“Employees from the affected stores were offered the opportunity to relocate to operating stores as part of a tactical strategy to optimise resources in trade zones with higher customer engagement,” the company said.

The Singapore-based news agency also reported, their checks show three outlets in Kuala Lumpur in Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sultan and Taman Melawati found signs saying they were “temporarily closed”. Boxes were stacked up inside the restaurants. Workers at neighbouring stores said they were closed a week ago because of a lack of customers.

“KFC is not on the BDS list of targeted companies. But many Malaysians see any American fast-food operator to be related to Israel including KFC,” said Professor Mohd Nazari Ismail, chairman of pro-Palestinian group Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Malaysia.

Since the boycott began in October 2023, KFC has shifted its branding strategy, with signs on their menu boards and fliers emphasising that it is owned by Johor Corporation, which belongs to the Johor state government.

“To mitigate the impact of the boycott, QSR changed its branding strategy to become more Islamic on its website in the fourth quarter of last year,” said the source.

The company’s website said its businesses provide “employment opportunities for over 30,000 employees, of whom 86 per cent are Muslims”.

In the state of Kedah, 11 outlets have closed, Nanyang Siang Pau said.

Entrepreneur Encik Amri Hasim from Alor Setar in Kedah said that since the boycott began, he has received many job applications from KFC workers, and that its outlets there had reduced their operating hours from 24 hours a day to 12.

“They told me that their salary has been slashed by half. Their basic salary was RM1,500 (S$430) a month and with overtime, they used to earn roughly RM2,000. Now their take-home pay is between RM600 and RM700,” said the 43-year-old who runs a family business producing goat’s milk soap.

There are more than 600 KFC restaurants in Malaysia, according to the QSR website.

KFC and a few other US-based brands such as Starbucks and McDonald’s have been facing boycotts because of their perceived link to Israel since the war in Gaza started on October 7, 2023.

Kuala Lumpur-listed Berjaya Food, which owns 400 Starbucks stores in Malaysia, reported a net loss of RM42.6 million from October to December 2023, with owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan reportedly considering taking the company private.

QSR also operates KFC restaurants in Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia, as well as more than 480 Pizza Hut stores in Malaysia and Singapore.

North-east Kelantan state is the worst-affected with nearly 80 per cent, or up to 21 outlets, halting their operations, followed by 15 outlets in Johor, Nanyang Siang Pau said.

Selangor, the most industrialised state in Malaysia, has 11 branches temporarily closed, 10 of which are located in Malay-majority Shah Alam.

The news portal said they have contacted QSR for comment and have yet to receive any feedback at the time of writing.

Meanwhile, prominent blogger Tuan Syed Akbar Ali (picture, above) commented the temporary closure of 108 KFC outlets nationwide will definitely cause more people in the country to become poorer, especially Malays. As reported, 86 percent of the 30,000 KFC employees are Malay-Muslims.

Apart from the employees, the situation may also reduce badly the income of lorry drivers delivering goods to KFC, suppliers and other parties related to the business. Some of them could become jobless too.

"100 KFC TUTUP, BOIKOT PUNYA PASAL. HOORAY! ALLAHU AKBAR. MALAYSIA KITA SUDAH BERJAYA!! 

"Bilangan B40 Melayu akan bertambah. Mereka akan mengundi parti lawan Inilah cara terbaik kerajaan kalah undi," he said.

Syed Akbar wrote and published today, in his own OutSyed The Box, a blog with more than a hundred million page views.

The appearance and act on the above video are for illustration purpose only.

End©Permadu


By Fauzi Kadir
Chief Editor

Assistant Editor
Jamaliah Mohd Salleh


Final editing and brought to you by
Fauzi Kadir CHIEF EDITOR

© 2024 Permadu Harmony Bersepadu
(Semua Hak Cipta Terpelihara)
All Rights Reserved 
Contact us at permadu@gmail.com

(DILULUSKAN UNTUK SIARAN OLEH LEMBAGA SIDANG PENGARANG) 
PUBLISHED UPON APPROVAL BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Official and authorised bank account for Permadu Malaysia
Fauzi Bin Abd... 7600650948 CIMB Bank

Visiting Permadu Malaysia is absolutely free and we operate with non-profit making objective. We hope you enjoy and feel happy visiting and reading every presentation from us.

If you have the generosity to support our operations and continuous activities of charity to those who are less fortunate, we would be grateful to accept sincere contributions from any individuals or organisations. 

Contact us at permadu@gmail.com for further details and information. No obligation and no commitment.

Comments

Post a Comment

POPULAR POSTS from Permadu Malaysia

Beer, khalwat and a hundred other non-halal things

Image
In one undated video clip, it was recorded that PAS president, Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang as clarifying that offences of corruption are not included in Hudud law. Watch Video "Corruption is not part of stealing", so it's hudud-free  Don't get confused with Hadi's version of Islamic understanding, we could have misinterpreted his explanation   Some people say Malays are not very particular about corruption, but... " Malays are particular about beer, khalwat and a hundred other non-halal things. They should use their self-discipline to avoid the non-halal stuff, but instead, they want the government to do it for them. So, the government willingly obliges; it makes laws that make it criminal for any sin, for their in moral lapses ," said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. Expensive to enforce moral offences Expressing his personal views on Islamic moral offences, Zaid said: " This means you need spies to peep through doors; enforcement officers; the courts; and other g...
Read more

Mengapa tidak Sultan Pahang sendiri mengklarifikasi baginda ada bertitah addendum atau pun tidak

Image
Ramai sangat yang bercakap bagi pihak Sultan Pahang. Entah ya entah tidak. Biar Sultan Pahang sendiri yang bertitah memperjelas perkara sebenar. Mencampur aduk politik dan sistem perundangan sangat merbahaya dan boleh menghancurkan negara selain menghakis keyakinan rakyat terhadap pemerintah. Malangnya, inilah yang telah, sedang dan dijangka akan terus berlaku. Sudah menjadi rahsia terbuka, persepsi rakyat Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi diselamatkan oleh Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dari kes prima facie melibatkan 47 pertuduhan melalui DNAA. Pada masa sama, Anwar kata dia tidak pernah campur perihal sistem kehakiman di negara ini. Rakyat berhak untuk mempercayainya atau sebaliknya. Adakah hanya musuh politik yang kena itu satu kebetulan? Apapun, janganlah kita hanya pandai menyalahkan Anwar sahaja kerana hampir semua perdana menteri terdahulu melakukan perkara yang serupa. Terbaharu, isu titah addendum yang menjurus bekas perdana menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak yang kini se...
Read more

Satu demi satu agamawan problematik muncul, terkini Dr Mashitah Ibrahim

Image
Selamat menyertai Kelab Agamawan Problematik Nampaknya seorang lagi tokoh agamawan, pendakwah, penceramah motivasi keagamaan dan ilmuwan agama kelihatan terjebak di arena kontroversi berkaitan perlanggaran undang-undang negara yang serius. Jika sabit kesalahan, membolehkan seseorang pesalah dihukum penjara. Bagaimanapun, ini baru di peringkat siasatan. Oleh itu, ikutilah perkembangannya tanpa prejudis.  Itulah Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim ( gambar, atas ), bekas menteri dari Barisan Nasional, pernah menjadi ahli Parlimen Baling, Kedah. Kepopularan Mashitah bermula di era 80an apabila sering muncul menjadi panel penceramah agama dalam rancangan TV Forum Perdana terbitan RTM serta lain-lain program ketika itu. Kegemilangan Mashitah berada di puncak selepas dilamar kerajaan memerintah, seterusnya bertanding di pilihan raya, menang menjadi ahli Parlimen dan seterusnya dilantik sebagai timbalan menteri. Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, media melaporkan  Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) ...
Read more

Representing 22,000 lawyers, Malaysian Bar to challenge Pardons Board's reduced Najib's jail sentence and fine

Image
Media reported the Malaysian Bar has filed for judicial review to challenge the decision of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) to halve former prime minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak’s jail sentence and reduce the fine in his SRC International corruption conviction. In the application filed by solicitors Messrs Amir & Rajpal Ghat in the High Court last Friday, the Bar, which represents 22,000 lawyers practising in Peninsular Malaysia, sought a declaration that the board’s collective decision was unlawful, unconstitutional and void, according to FMT . It also requested an order of certiorari against the board to quash the FTPB’s decision. The board and Najib are named as respondents to the application. The Bar also wants a permanent injunction restraining Najib or his agents from submitting any application for pardon, reprieve or respite to the board until all criminal charges against him have been exhausted. The Bar said the injunction should remain in force ...
Read more

Boss Wanita Kastam bercuti ke Bangkok pakai duit sendiri

Image
Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin,  Ketua Pengarah Kastam (KPK), Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM) Senyuman Boss semanis cukai Penafian  semata-mata  sambil meminta orang ramai percaya adalah tidak memadai, SPRM wajar siasat juga Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM) menafikan hantaran tular yang mendakwa Ketua Pengarah Kastam (KPK), Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin menyalahgunakan peruntukan kerajaan untuk bercuti di Bangkok, Thailand baru-baru ini, media tempatan melaporkan semalam. JKDM yang dipercayai berada di bawah kawalan Anis Rizana sendiri, menerusi kenyataan memaklumkan dakwaan itu turut menyatakan KPK Anis Rizana bercuti bersama keluarga dengan menaiki penerbangan kelas perniagaan. Menurutnya, JKDM ingin membuat penafian terhadap tohmahan dan fitnah tidak berasas yang telah dikeluarkan oleh pihak tidak bertanggungjawab itu. "Dimaklumkan bahawa pengambilan cuti KPK selama dua hari, iaitu pada 30 Oktober 2024 dan 1 November 2024 telah diluluskan Datuk Ketua Seti...
Read more

Laporan polis Perkasa berunsur sindiran kepada Raja-Raja Melayu?

Image
Perkasa lapor polis kerana bimbang berita Yang di-Pertuan Agong pegang 22.3% saham U Mobile mungkin maklumat palsu Ada andaian mengatakan tindakan sebuah NGO Melayu membuat laporan polis berkaitan isu 5G yang sedang hangat diperkatakan sebagai satu sindiran padu terhadap Raja-Raja Melayu yang aktif terlibat dalam perniagaan. Bagaimanapun, berdasarkan penjelasan pemimpin NGO itu, mereka sekadar ingin memecah kekeliruan untuk mendapatkan maklumat sebenar sambil menegaskan pendirian selari dengan peruntukan Perlembagaan Persekutuan di negara ini yang tidak membenarkan Raja-Raja Melayu aktif terlibat dalam perusahaan komersial. Semalam, Rabu 6 November 2024, media melaporkan Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa (Perkasa) membuat laporan polis berkaitan laporan media bahawa Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim mempunyai saham dalam U Mobile yang dilantik sebagai pengendali rangkaian 5G kedua. Menurut Malaysiakini pula, Presiden kumpulan pendesak Melayu itu Tuan Syed Hasan Syed Ali berkata beliau mem...
Read more

Profesor Universiti Malaya didakwa hantar gambarnya sendiri berbogel kepada pelajar perempuan

Image
Pengurusan Universiti Malaya (UM) digesa memperketat polisi gangguan seksual setelah seorang profesor didakwa berkongsi gambar bogel diri sendiri dengan pelajar. "Menurut sumber pelajar tanpa nama, profesor itu mempunyai sejarah dakwaan gangguan seksual dan telah dilaporkan oleh pelajar sebelum ini. "Seorang pelajar yang tidak mendedahkan nama mengesahkan bahawa profesor itu telah dilaporkan sebelum ini, tetapi tiada tindakan diambil kerana kedudukannya yang berpengaruh dalam jabatan itu," Malaysiakini memetik kenyataan Kelab Feminisme UM (UMFC). 'Sempat dipamer di sekitar kampus’ Sementara itu, UMFC dalam kenyataan semalam juga mendakwa, gambar itu dicetak dan dipamer di sekitar kampus sebagai tanda amaran buat pelajar lain tetapi diturunkan tidak lama selepas itu. UMFC juga mendakwa bahawa beberapa profesor lain cuba melindungi profesor itu. Katanya, terdapat profesor lain daripada fakulti sama yang menghantar e-mel kepada beberapa pelajar dengan menyifatkan kejad...
Read more

Sultan Ibrahim tidak akan melayan sama sekali mereka yang melobi untuk mendapat gelaran Tan Sri, Datuk

Image
Ya ng di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim berkenan memeriksa Kawalan Kehormatan Utama dari Batalion Pertama Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja (RAMD) sempena Istiadat Menghadap dan Pengurniaan Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan 2024 di Istana Negara hari ini. GAMBAR BERNAMA Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim hari ini memberi amaran akan menarik balik darjah kebesaran, bintang dan pingat Persekutuan daripada penerima yang terbabit jenayah, mencemarkan nama negara atau dihukum oleh mahkamah, agensi berita rasmi negara, Bernama melaporkan. Banduan dan mereka yang dihukum mahkamah, mencemar nama baik Malaysia, gelaran mereka akan ditarik balik Baginda bertitah, setiap penerima yang sudah dipilih seharusnya bersifat jujur dan amanah kepada pemerintah, menjaga tingkah laku dan tidak terbabit dalam kegiatan rasuah serta sebarang kesalahan jenayah.   "Sekiranya ada penerima yang mencemarkan nama negara atau melakukan jenayah dan dihukum oleh mahkamah, maka segala darjah dan pingat ...
Read more

Imam, son and religious officer arrested — Alleged RM1.2m corruption involving marriage registration in Perlis

Image
A senior officer with the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) was among three men remanded over alleged corruption involving marriage registration in Perlis. NSTP PICTURE BY AIZAT SHARIF A senior officer with the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) was among three men remanded over alleged corruption involving marriage registration in Perlis, New Straits Times reported today.  NO MONEY NO RELIGION ,  says OutSyed The Box NST TV's Video dated June 5, 2024. Magistrate Puan Ana Rozana Mohd Nor granted the remand application when the 45-year-old officer and two other individuals, an imam of a local mosque and the latter's son, were presented to the court by SPRM, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). According to an MACC source, the men aged between 25 and 52 were remanded to assist in investigations over an alleged RM1,183,140 corruption case involving marriage registration in Perlis between April 2022 and June last year. The source said ...
Read more

Dipaksa kahwin atas arahan Nabi Muhammad SAW dan Abuya? Mengarut!

Image
Cik Ummu Atiyyah As'shari, bekas ahli Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holding (GISBH), anak kepada pengasas Al Arqam Allahyarham Encik  Ashaari Muhammad. Allahyarham Encik  Ashaari Muhammad, pengasas Al Arqam, juga dikenali sebagai Abuya. Tolak lamaran pimpinan tertinggi  GISBH yang tua, gemuk lagi boroi, akhirnya dibogelkan, lalu dirogol, selepas dicucuh api dan dicampak ke dalam kolam, menurut dakwaan sebelah pihak Siasatan rapi, menyeluruh dan adil dapat merungkai masalah dan teka-teki Bekas ahli Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holding (GISBH), Cik Ummu Atiyyah As'shari mendakwa dirinya dibogelkan,  kemudian dirogol! Tidak cukup dengan itu dia juga dicucuh dengan pemetik api serta direjam dalam kolam kerana enggan memuaskan nafsu, demikian menurut laporan media yang hadir di sidang media mangsa dan peguam mereka pada Jumaat, 18 Oktober 2024. Wanita berusia 41 tahun itu yang juga anak kepada pengasas Al-Arqam, Allahyarham Encik Ashaari Muhammad mendakwa dia d...
Read more