KFC shuts over lOO Malaysia outlets temporarily as boycott continues

Other US-based brands also face boycotts due to perceived Israel link after Gaza war

- Hazlin Hassan and Zunaira Saieed

KFC has reduced its operations in Malaysia, shuttering more than 100 restaurants temporarily after months of a persistent pro-Palestine boycott of USlinked businesses triggered by the ongoing war in Gaza.

QSR Brands, which owns and operates the KFC fast-food franchise in Malaysia, is suspending operations of 108 outlets nationwide, the Nanyang Siang Pau Chineselanguage daily said, based on information from Google Maps.

The maps show which KFC stores have had their status updated to show "temporarily closed".

A source at QSR, who declined to be named, said the firm sees the boycott as an opportunity to cease some KFC store operations that have weighed on its balance sheet.

QRS said on April 29 that it has taken proactive measures to temporarily close outlets in order to manage growing business costs and focus on the busier KFC stores.

"Employees from the affected stores were offered the opportunity to relocate to operating stores as part of a tactical strategy to optimise resources in trade zones with higher customer engagement," the company said.