How a Malaysian coffee shop menu became latest political battleground

AI Summary

A boycott of Malaysian Chinese-owned Oriental Kopi over a menu that omitted Malay text has become a flashpoint in debates over race and national identity. Political parties are seeking to appeal to Malay voters ahead of the next general election.

Calls to boycott a Malaysian Chinese-owned coffee-shop chain over its omission of Malay text from its menu have reignited arguments over race and national identity, as political parties jostle to court the country’s majority ethnic group ahead of the next general election. The Oriental Kopi boycott marks the latest saga fuelling ethnic grievances that politicians have been seen to capitalise on by portraying themselves as defenders of Malay identity. It comes ahead of the November 14 election in...