PRODUCT boycotts are ineffective and only serve to anger people, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“The people who are organising boycotts of non-Malay products services are shallow. But it doesn’t work.

“Boycott is a weapon that is ineffective. It only angers people. Don’t boycott anyone’s products, Malay or non-Malay,” said the prime minister when asked to comment on suggestions of a boycott against non-Bumiputera products and services.

A local civil society group has joined the campaign started on social media by users who called for non-Muslims to stop using halal logos on their products.

The campaign resulted from reactions of some Malaysians to the opposition by civil society groups and politicians against the introduction of Jawi lessons in schools.

Non-vernacular schools are to introduce the subject too, which enraged some groups and got some political leaders criticising their own government. 

Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan adviser and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari had briefed the council on the issue of amending the state’s Islamic laws on single-parent child conversions.

“He was here and the matter has been postponed. He has given the commitment to discuss with all the parties,” said Anwar.

Amirudin had tried to amend the state’s Islamic law to allow for single-parent child conversion despite the Federal Court’s ruling that child conversions needed the consent of both parents.

But before the amendment could be tabled, Selangor Speaker Ng Suee Lim ended the state assembly meeting several days earlier than scheduled. – August 30, 2019.