Groups in largely-Muslim Malaysia have launched a boycott of Coca-Cola drinks and Starbucks coffee in reaction to perceived US failure to stop Israeli military action in Lebanon and Gaza. Malaysians for Peace, the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) and the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association said they would encourage thousands of members to join the boycott of the American products.
Speaking to reporters, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, head of Malaysians for Peace believed that the boycott would be effective in bringing more international pressure on Israel to stop bombing Lebanon and Palestine. These sentiments were similar to those of Jamarulkhan Kadir, president of the restaurant owners' association whose 4,000 members will be advised to stop serving Coca-Cola in their restaurants. "We think only by inflicting something on (US) economic activities, we could make them realize what they're doing is wrong," he told Agence France-Presse.
Mr Kadir said his group will also contact sister organizations in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan to try to turn the campaign global. He commented that a similar three-month boycott against Coke in 2003 to protest at the US invasion of Iraq had made a dent in sales. In a final comment Mr Kadir added: "We have nothing against the American people, we love American people. We are only protesting the foreign policies which have a double standard." |