MCMC said the claims were untrue. “There have been no discussions regarding prosecution under the Sedition Act 1948,” said MCMC, which regulates use of the internet and online facilities.

MCMC said a complaint was received from the Malaysian McDonald’s operator, Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd. However, the commission has not initiated any investigations under the Communications and Multimedia Act. It added that the Sedition Act was not under MCMC’s jurisdiction.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that McDonald Malaysia’s chief technology officer Zaid Hasman claimed that the Sedition Act would be used against those who spread “fitnah” (slander) against the company.

He had also posted a photograph showing MCMC chairman Salim Fateh Din and himself, which he said was taken during a visit by McDonald’s Malaysia representatives to MCMC’s headquarters in Cyberjaya. The post was later removed.

McDonald’s restaurants in Malaysia and elsewhere have faced boycotts since Israel and Hamas went to war in Gaza last month. The Malaysian operator issued a statement on Oct 25 to distance itself from the actions of McDonald’s Israel, which had offered free meals to Israeli soldiers in the war on Gaza.