KUALA LUMPUR: Any boycott movement against American-linked businesses in Malaysia would only hurt Malaysian employees, and not the United States or Israel.
New US Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard D Kagan, however acknowledged that the people have a right to voice their views peacefully via protests and boycotts.
"I am very grateful that boycotts have been peaceful. I think it is unfortunate because ultimately, as I'm sure all of you know, the two main outlets that are being boycotted are, in both cases, one is owned by Malaysians, one is owned by Saudis.
"The people who are suffering as a result are the Malaysian employees. There may be some symbolic satisfaction in doing it, but ultimately the people that it really hurts, it's not Israel and it's not really the United States," he said.
Kagan was speaking to reporters after a roundtable session with Malaysian media at the US ambassador's residence in Kuala Lumpur today.
McDonald's and Starbucks have been the among the major targets of boycotts in Malaysia following Israel's brutal retaliation to the Oct 7, 2023 attacks in towns next to Gaza.
Kagan was also asked for his views on the Us embassy being the focal point of the anti-Israel protests.
"I would be lying if I said we were thrilled that people saw us as the way to express dissatisfaction with Israel," he said, adding that it is the practical reality and reflects the sense that many Malaysians share.
However, he said the US has always been on the record in supporting the rights of Malaysians to demonstrate peacefully.
"And we've done that when it was much less popular to take those views than it is now. I think we've done that because we see this consistent with our value. So we strongly support the right of peaceful protest.
"Obviously our preference would be that they not see us as the way to express dissatisfaction with Israel because obviously we are not Israel. But we also understand that that's the reality that we're operating in.
"So I think in that sense it's unfortunate. On the other hand, we respect the right of people to protest peacefully and express their views in whatever way they want to.
"And again, we have long been on record supporting that in Malaysia. We've been very consistent in doing that because we think that this is the best way for any society to express dissenting views," he said.
Kagan said they were also grateful to the government and professionalism of the police in ensuring the security of their facilities and people.
In Dec last year, participants of the 'Piket Demi Palestin' (Picket for Palestine) demonstration set up tents near the embassy in Jalan Tun Razak, in response to the US government's veto of the United Nations' efforts to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.