ALBAWABA - In a firm stance to support the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and despite the end of the attacks by the Israeli army, Malaysians continue to boycott McDonald's and the rest of the companies that support the occupation.
Ahmad’s Fried Chicken is a local brand in Malaysia that originally started from a basic food truck on the road and expanded to 35 branches across the Asian country.
The story began when Lailatul Sarahjana Mohd Ismail's kids wanted to head to McDonald's during the war in Gaza and the continuous Israeli bombing, but she refused due to the boycott campaign, which forced the closure of major branches of McDonald's and other companies in the Middle East and cost millions of dollars in losses to their owners.
Ahmad's, the replacement of McDonald's in Malaysia. (Ahmad's official Facebook page)
Ahmad's brand was started by Lailatul Sarahjana Mohd Ismail and her husband, Mohd Taufik Khairuddin, and by the end of 2026, it is estimated to have about 110 branches.
Ahmad’s Fried Chicken sells burgers and fried chicken, in addition to having a breakfast menu and ice cream.
Ahmad's, the replacement of McDonald's in Malaysia. (Ahmad's official Facebook page)
Not only McDonald's, but also Starbucks' popularity shrank over the war in Gaza, and instead, local Malaysian cafe chain Zuspresso doubled its store count in 2024.
Zus Coffee now has more than 700 outlets across the country.
