Malaysian media also talking about it.
http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/48998-mcdonalds-pulls-pig-toy-
http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/48998-mcdonalds-pulls-pig-toy-
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Jan 7, 2010
McDonald's takes the charm out of Doraemon series
MCDONALD'S started a Doraemon lucky charm series recently with each lucky charm sold at $2 if one orders a set meal. My two-year-old daughter is a Doraemon fan and can sing the song whenever she sees the cartoon cat. Thinking of getting four Doraemon lucky charms representing the Chinese zodiac signs of my family - Tiger, Rabbit, Pig and Ox - I visited the McDonald's outlet in Tampines Mall on Monday. The idea was to display them during Chinese New Year. After I bought the Tiger and Rabbit lucky charms, I scanned the series and realised one animal was missing from the 12 signs - the Pig. Instead, McDonald's had a Cupid Doraemon. I could understand why Cupid was there as the first day of Chinese New Year happens to be Valentine's Day. But why should the Pig be missing from the series since all other 11 animals (even the mythical dragon) are included? Puzzled, I asked the counter staff. The answer surprised me even more: As a halal restaurant, McDonald's could not display or sell Pig soft toys.
I understand that we need to respect our Muslim citizens as Singapore is a multiracial and multicultural society. Halal food establishments must meet the criteria set by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) to be certified as such. I also understand why some restaurants do not allow dogs on their premises as it may offend Muslim diners. I have Muslim friends and when I invite them for a meal, I make sure I have a halal food option. If I dine with them, I avoid ordering pork dishes too. However, in this case, the Pig is one of the Chinese zodiac signs - part of Chinese culture and customs - and it is just a soft toy, not food. Will the sight of a Doraemon collectible Pig soft toy offend anyone? Was the decision based on a recommendation from Muis? I have given up collecting the lucky charms because my girl was born in the Year of the Pig and she has no 'luck' in getting her Doraemon charm.
Pauline Koh (Ms)
we need to send a clear message to McDonalds that this is Singapore, not Riyadh or even Kelantan!
Riddiculous lah sg multi racial but must respect muslims even to the extent of a toy and mind u they are minorities in this country.
No wonder they are getting more and more demanding.
I am saying that McD wrongly interprets the halal certification, and taking political correctness to the extreme to cater to the extremists.
McD makes the vast majority of our moderate Muslims look bad.
got Hello Kitty soft toy...everybody complains!
Quality not quantity. What is the point of having 75% worthless and balless stock? The Malays did not demand the pig be pulled.. the local Chinese management at McD did that all by themselves. Why?
we need to send a clear message to McDonalds that this is Singapore, not Riyadh or even Kelantan!
Dear Pauline,
Unlike the Chinese, the Malays have conviction and unity. A united Malay boycott against McD would hurt the latter's bottom line. That is why despite making up 15% of the population, minority races are prevented by the HDB ethnic quota from congregating and becoming a political movement to reckon with. The PAP has no such concerns with the Chinese 75% majority as they are easily manipulated, petty and greedy as the McD incident clearly shows.
The local Chinese management at McD decided to castrate themselves to save a few dollars. This is what this fiasco is all about.
Dear Pauline,
You like many of your fellow Chinese are outraged over the missing pig even though i find it amusing that you need to iterate having Muslim friends and how you go out of your way not to offend their sensibilities when dining. I am very sure "your Muslim friends" are touched or is it really subtle racism you are displaying through your indignation over the lack of the stuff toy pig?
Where you and many others have overlooked is that the Muslims/Malays have had nothing to do with this. It was purely a commercial decision undertaken by the McDonald's local management. The decision makers would have most likely been Chinese.. even though the ones flipping burgers are the minority races.
McDonald's much have weighed the decision over the stuffed toy pig versus a potential boycott by the Malay/Muslim population and decided to ditch the pig instead.
Unlike the Chinese, the Malays have conviction and unity. A united Malay boycott against McD would hurt the latter's bottom line. That is why despite making up 15% of the population, minority races are prevented by the HDB ethnic quota from congregating and becoming a political movement to reckon with. The PAP has no such concerns with the Chinese 75% majority as they are easily manipulated, petty and greedy as the McD incident clearly shows.
The local Chinese management at McD decided to castrate themselves to save a few dollars. This is what this fiasco is all about.
Quality not quantity. What is the point of having 75% worthless and balless stock? The Malays did not demand the pig be pulled.. the local Chinese management at McD did that all by themselves. Why?
which are the ones who are easily manipulated?
isn't it the malays??the whole fools of them can just get forced convert from hindus/buddhists and become followers of terrors.
it's time we free this bunch of lost sheeps.
The answer surprised me even more: As a halal restaurant, McDonald's could not display or sell Pig soft toys.
I understand that we need to respect our Muslim citizens as Singapore is a multiracial and multicultural society. Halal food establishments must meet the criteria set by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) to be certified as such. I also understand why some restaurants do not allow dogs on their premises as it may offend Muslim diners. I have Muslim friends and when I invite them for a meal, I make sure I have a halal food option. If I dine with them, I avoid ordering pork dishes too.
To add further, McDonald's is NOT a Muslim restaurant.
McDonald cater to all the races.
This is the problem. To cater to all races, must be halal certified. Halal certified means halal meats and no pork. No pork is catering all races? Indians don't seem to have problem eating in restaurants serving beef. They simply order something else and allow others to eat beef.
Cu-pig