Do your research before joining boycotts, economist tells Malaysians

Malaysians should do their research before joining boycott campaigns, instead of acting on headlines or claims circulating on social media, says an economist.

Citing boycotts of McDonald’s and the controversy surrounding BlackRock’s involvement in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), economist Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff said Malaysians should establish the facts, and consider the wider consequences, before deciding whether to support such boycotts.

“BlackRock is an investor in Bursa Malaysia, meaning it has ownership in many companies, including EPF,” he said at the New Muslims Community Conference 2026 in Kuala Lumpur today.

“So, are you trying to say boycott everyone?

“You need to do research. Unfortunately, we don’t do much research. We just look at the headline and think that’s the whole truth.”

He was responding to a question about boycotts of products associated with Israel.

Malaysians have boycotted several companies because of their alleged ties with the US and Israel following Tel Aviv’s sustained military action in Gaza.

Razman, of Putra Business School, said none of the companies operating in Malaysia was directly involved in the injustices being reported globally.

He said the issue remained sensitive, particularly because of concerns over the impact of such boycotts on local workers.

He said efforts should be made to fight injustice, but noted that boycott campaigns often died down after several months.

Adnan Lee, managing director of MBG Fruits, urged Malaysians to consider the wider impact of boycotts, saying companies also employed people who depended on their jobs to support their families.

“Employees also need to feed their families. We cannot remain stuck on certain issues simply because there is a trend to boycott,” he said.