How a Malaysian coffee shop menu became latest political battleground

South China Morning Post Tuesday 20 October 2026, 07:00 UTC By Iman Muttaqin Yusof 1 min read

Key Points

Calls to boycott a Malaysian Chinese-owned coffee-shop chain over its omission of Malay text from its menu have reignited arguments over race and national identity, as political parties jostle to court the country’s majority ethnic group ahead of the next general election. The Oriental Kopi boycott marks the latest saga fuelling ethnic grievances that politicians have been seen to capitalise on by portraying themselves as defenders of Malay identity. It comes ahead of the November 14...

Malaysian (ORG) Chinese (ORG) Malay (ORG)

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How a Malaysian coffee shop menu became latest political battleground

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