KUALA LUMPUR: Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd, the licensee of McDonald's in Malaysia, has demanded pro-Palestinian group Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia to issue an apology over alleged defamatory statements.
The company had also demanded BDS to pay RM6 million in special damages.
These were among the long list of claims made by the company, in a document sighted by the New Straits Times.
Based on the writ, it demanded BDS Malaysia to post the apology on its website, Facebook and Instagram pages, and for the apologies to remain in these platforms permanently.
Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd had compelled BDS Malaysia to retract false and defamatory statements published in any of its social media accounts, and for the NGO to cease issuing any statement or activities that could defame the company.
The document, dated Dec 19, had also demanded BDS Malaysia for exemplary and/or aggravated damages, a compensation at the rate of five per cent per annum on the losses awarded from the date of judgment until the date of full payment of the amount awarded, among others.
However, BDS Malaysia, when contacted by the NST, refused to comment further on the civil suit.
In a brief statement shared on X last night, the group said they had received the writ of summons from McDonald's Malaysia for allegedly defaming the company, putting their blame on the NGO for losses in its business.
BDS Malaysia however, strongly denied any wrongdoing, adding that they had engaged the services of legal firm Raja Riza and Associates.
"After consulting with our lawyers, we will issue a more detailed statement," it said.
Following this, McDonald's Malaysia said its civil suit against BDS Malaysia was to protect the rights and interests of the company.
In confirming the legal action, McDonald's Malaysia reiterated that none of its sales, profits, royalties, or franchise fees funded any political cause or conflict.