Since the conflict of Harbin, on October 7, 2023, Muslims in Southeast Asia have been affected.This negative impact triggered Muslims from Malaysia and Indonesia to resist international brands closely related to Israel.Facing the wave of resistance, the named brand is also suffering from the people's anger.
Eid recently, which was originally the season for Muslim consumption, but many companies' revenue performance was indeed not as good as before.Taking McDonald's International Business Department's report in the fourth quarter as an example, sales were obviously weak.The report pointed out that McDonald's franchise rights increased by only 0.7%, far lower than 16.5%of the same period of the previous year.Analysts pointed out that this wave of resisting waves did impact the company's performance.
Although there are many similarities between the reasons and methods of Muslim protests in Malaysia and Indonesia, the two governments have different positions and strategies during the resistance of resistance.
Resisting strategy is not overnight
The Palestinians launched resistance, withdrawal, and sanctions (BOYCOTMENT and Sanctions Movement (BDS Movement) for Israeli related products in 2005.Relevant agencies have also sent residents in Malaysia and India for publicity.The tension of the Pakistani relations is not last year. The initiative of resistance has also existed for nearly 20 years. Why did this wave reach the peak last year and became the focus of international attention?
Some people analyze that this is because of the rise of short video platforms, such as Tiktok and Instagram, you can see more Palestinian or the people of Gaza on these platforms, and are attacked by Israeli artillery attacks.This has made Muslims in Southeast Asia more visually stimulating and contribute to the Palestinian people.
Resistance, withdrawal, and sanctioning strategies seem macro, but there are not many people in Malaysia and India.After all, neither of the two countries have established diplomatic relations with Israel and have no trade relationship. The government is not effective to exercise the withdrawal of capital and sanctions.Like Prime Minister Anwar, Malaysia announced last year that all Israel owned and hanging Israeli flags prohibit the use of Malaysia's ports.This policy can cause a limited blow, as merchant ships can stop at seaports in Singapore or Thailand.
Only resisting strategies are more feasible.If some goods were originally purchased or supported by the public, the company lost a large number of customers for a while, and the revenue of damage would be seen.In fact, the people of Malaysia also know the principles of operation. Many respondents said that although they could not help the battlefield to assist Palestinian residents, they could not sponsor Israel by punishing related companies.Under pressure, considering the suspension.
Official wave of help
Such ideas are not God.Intellectuals of the two countries compare this strategy with South Africa in the period of racial isolationism. Some intellectuals believe that if the global economic resistance movement can cause racial isolation to end, it may naturally promote Israel's stop war.
The Indonesian Muslim Scholars Council (MUI) issued a FATWA (FATWA) on November 8 last year, calling on the public not to buy products supporting manufacturers supporting Israeli atrocities.The Malaysian Islamic Development Bureau (Jakim) also responded to resistance.The difference is that the latter's teachings have legal binding, which has a greater psychological impact on believers.
This is also the phenomenon that the observers noticed. The Malaysian Cup Movement is more radical and popular than Indonesia.One of the explanations is that officials have continuously contributed to the flames, making people more willing to participate in this operation.
The attitude of the two governments is indeed significantly different.In the Harbin conflict and the Middle Eastern war crisis, Malaysia side came forward by Anwar, while Indonesia spoke with other cabinet ministers.In addition to the aforementioned Israeli ships prohibited from entering Malaysia by Anwar, the Prime Minister himself also participated in the rally campaign of supporting Gaza refugees, and repeatedly protested against European and American leaders' pain to ignore the Palestinian people.
On the other side, Indonesian President Zoko rarely express his position on these issues, all of which are participated in the support activities by representatives of the Cabinet Minister.His minister also questioned the effect of BDS. After all, Indonesia does have no trade with Israel, and it is difficult to say whether it can really hurt the Israeli economy.
In Iran's recent actions in Israel, we can also see the differences between the two governments.Anwar publicly declared that Iran's military attack was legal, but in addition to holding a special economic conference, the Cabinet Minister only analyzed the impact of this war on Indonesia's economy, inflation, and prices.
Looking at the editorial of many Indonesian media, some commentators believe that the attitude of the country's government is too vague, and they should actively express their opinions so that the public has greater motivation to carry out the BDS movement to the end.The relationship between the government's endorsement and the action of the people is evident.
Anti -movement of more problems
Although the movement initiated by the people has caused a certain influence, because there is no unified information channel, it is confirmed that which merchants really sponsored the Israeli army or have a deep interest in the high -level Israeli senior management. ThereforeThe list is mainly.The news like a website quoted the Indonesian MUI, referring to house rental websites such as Airbnb, Expedia, and Booking.com in the Netherlands in the United States.Resisting, never providing a list of resistance products.
Indonesia's resistance movement is still around the discussion of the Harbin conflict. The development of Malaysia has changed interestingly. It has developed to any products that violate the doctrines and will be considered the object of resistance.Like the recently troubled KK MART socks incident, it was resisted for the controversy of "with the master".The teachings of the Lord (Shirk) are prohibited from depicting the image of Allah and the nature of idol worship.
In the past, Malaysia encountered such religious sensitive issues. Believers or politicians would only call the police to arrest the case, and the prosecutor was reported.However, in the past few months, the momentum and benefits of resisting the visible movement have made this measure a part of institutional dependence.We can imagine that when we encounter the same issue in the future, either party may use the resistance to call on the masses, and Pandora's box will open.Compared with Malaysia, more people in Indonesia have discussed the specific results of the resistance. After all, many international brands are actually investing in some countries in individual countries and calling for resistance. It only hurts the interests of Indonesian merchants and workers.
The author is a graduate student in Taiwan University, Malaysian current affairs commentator