Beyond regional spats, Malaysian consumers have also participated in broader economic boycotts, like the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting corporations perceived to have links to Israel.
In commenting on the Kahf issue, Threads user eafa_fiza said Malaysians should realise their purchasing power can have an impact on a firm’s bottom line.
“We decide who stays and who shuts down. This shows how strong we are when we unite. One silent boycott and a global brand can lose RM292 million (US$71.5 million) and close 88 stores. The power is truly in the hands of the consumers,” she wrote, referring to Starbucks in Malaysia, which has faced boycott calls over its perceived links to Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war.
According to a Bloomberg report, Starbucks operator Berjaya Food Bhd recorded an annual net loss of RM292 million in June 2025. The company cited the sustained fallout from Middle East conflict-related consumer sentiment, which disrupted market dynamics and shifted local spending patterns.
Sunway University economist Yeah Kim Leng told CNA that while social media boycotts trigger short-term sales dips and nationalist sentiment, they rarely inflict permanent brand damage.
“Eventually, product functionality prevails over emotion once rationality returns. Unless alternatives offer equal or better value, consumer sentiment usually gives way to product functionality once emotions cool down and rational purchasing habits return,” he said.
Yeah added that unlike short-lived social media disputes, campaigns like the BDS movement are far more enduring because they resonate across broader segments of society and tap into deeper ideological convictions.
Indonesia’s Trade Minister Budi Santoso was reported to have downplayed the boycott calls of Indonesian products and brands, saying that it had not affected bilateral trade relations between the two countries.
“I don’t think it has (an impact). This is probably just a temporary response,” Budi was quoted as saying by local news outlet Tempo on Oct 8.
