BDS Malaysia said the government should exclude these firms from procurement contracts as working with them was akin to enabling the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

It listed defence contractors like Lockheed Martin and MBDA (BAE Systems), tech giants like Hewlett-Packard, Google and Intel, as well as industrial firms such as Caterpillar and Siemens.

The group added that not dealing with these firms meant aligning the nation’s trade policies with its overall foreign policy.

“Acting against genocide is of the utmost urgency. One way is to hold these companies accountable for their complicity and treat them as business outcasts,” it said in a statement.

Last December, McDonald’s Malaysia, through franchise owner Gerbang Alaf Restaurants Sdn Bhd, sued BDS Malaysia for defaming the fast-food franchise through its calls for a boycott for purportedly “colluding with Israel”.

BDS Malaysia denied initiating a boycott, claiming it was started by ordinary Malaysians. The suit was eventually dropped following talks between both parties.