REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Mcdonald's Indonesia issued a statement trying to calm anger over the policy of its franchise partner in Israel in assisting accupation forces which is currently massacering Gazans in the Palestine. However, in an official statement released to media crews, McDonald's Indonesia did not mention Palestinian or Gaza at all.
Instead of using the two significant words, McDonald's Indonesia prefers to use the word Middle East to refer to the "fighting" that is taking place between Israel and Hamas. McDonald's Indonesia insists it is not related to McDonald's Israel. McDonald's Indonesia said it had no affiliation with McDonald's decisions and operations in other countries.
“PT Rekso Nasional Food is very concerned to see the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East. As a franchisee who has a role in developing McDonald's network in Indonesia, for us community is at the heart of the company's business. Our sympathies go out to the victims, their families, and the affected communities,” McDonald's Indonesia Associate Director of Communications Meta Rostiawati said in a statement on Friday (20/10/2023).
In the statement, Meta said in connection with the latest news about McDonald's confirmed PT Rekso Nasional Food is a national private company. The company is wholly owned by Indonesian entrepreneurs with more than 16,000 local employees. “McDonald's Indonesia is an entity that operates independently and is not affiliated with McDonald's operations or decisions in other countries, including McDonald's Israel,” he said.
“We are committed to always providing the best service for customers, serving food with leading quality, and providing great benefits to the surrounding community and Indonesian people,” he added.
Earlier it was reported McDonald's Israel announced giving thousands of free meals to the Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli citizens. Quoted from Business Insider on Saturday (October 14, 2023) via Instagram, McDonald's said they donated “tens of thousands of meals” across Israel in recent days during the conflict.
“McDonald's donates and continues to donate tens of thousands of meals to IDF units, police, hospitals, residents throughout the Gaza Strip and all members of rescue teams,” McDonalds said in a statement translated from Hebrew. “We continue to donate thousands of meals every day to all of our troops across the country. In addition to a 50 percent discount for soldiers and security forces who come to our branch,” the fast-food restaurant added.
"We continue to donate thousands of meals every day to all our troops across the country. In addition to a 50 percent discount for soldiers and security forces who come to our branches," the fast food chain added. In one of its posts, McDonald's said it had opened five restaurants just to provide aid and donations to the security forces. The franchise restaurant also plans to deliver 4,000 meals every day.
This move sparked a boycott of McDonald's in Egypt. The Egyptian public strongly criticized McDonald's Israel's decision to provide assistance to the IDF in the Israel-Gaza conflict. This boycott not only shows how the actions of multinational companies can backfire. Quoted by BNN Network, Saturday (14/10/2023) McDonald's was indirectly involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most Egyptians, who have complex and tense relations with Israel, see McDonald's move as supporting the IDF.
The fast food chain on several Muslim majority countries has since distancing themself from the action of McDonald's Israel. Most of the franchise's local statements clearly mentioned the suffering of Palestinians and Gazans. These include statements issued by McDonald's in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. They also announced a donation of USD 1.2 million to be allocated to Gaza.
McDonald's Malaysia also donated RM 1 million to the Palestine Humanitarian Fund which was recently launched under the Prime Minister's Department, after the backlash. "This move is in line with the government's noble initiatives, as unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the submission of the 2024 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat," McDonald's said in a statement reported by Bernama, Wednesday (18/10/2023).
“The Prime Minister's proposal to allocate 10 million ringgit (Rp 33 billion) to the Palestine Humanitarian Fund is very much in line with our commitment to support those affected by the current conflict in Gaza. "The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza underscores the urgency of these efforts," McDonald's Malaysia said.
McDonald's Malaysia notes that contributions to the Palestine Humanitarian Fund will directly support relief efforts in Gaza, addressing the critical needs of those affected by the conflict. “We believe in the power of collective effort during these challenging times. Beyond our initial contribution, McDonald's Malaysia is also engaging our employees nationwide in fundraising initiatives to further support relief efforts in Gaza," said McDonald's.
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