Terengganu has announced that it will start strictly enforcing a sharia law that punishes Muslim men who skip Friday prayers without a valid reason. Under the rule, offenders could face up to two years in jail, a fine of RM3,000, or even both. The ruling, passed a few years ago, has recently resurfaced in the spotlight and sparked plenty of debate online.
Image credit: myBurgerLab (Facebook)
One person who weighed in was Andrew Chong, the chief operating officer of popular burger chain myBurgerLab. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he compared the move to what happened in Iran after its revolution, a comment that quickly drew backlash. Some netizens felt he was being disrespectful, while others even called for a boycott of the eatery.
Chong has since apologised, saying he was “deeply sorry” and admitting his remarks were thoughtless. “My values are rooted in respect and inclusivity, but I fell short here,” he said. He also shared that he’s open to listening and learning from those willing to share their views.
He explained that he deleted the original post not to run from his mistake, but to avoid causing more hurt or anger.
Image credit: Andrew Chong (Twitter)
Following his actions, the local burger chain has issued a statement apologising for his behaviour. The company clarified that Chong’s comments, does not reflect the brand’s values and has since terminated his role in the company.
Image credit: myBurgerLab (Facebook)
“Andrew’s post went against everything we stand for,” myBurgerLab said in a statement. “We do not condone any form of discrimination or disrespect towards religion, and we stand in solidarity with our Muslim community.”
Moving forward, myBurgerLab said it is tightening its internal policies. Among the steps: rolling out mandatory cultural sensitivity training within 30 days, in collaboration with experts including the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), plus annual refreshers for staff.
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