How a Malaysian coffee shop menu became latest political battleground
Por Iman Muttaqin Yusof — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement Malaysia This Week in Asia Lifestyle & Culture How a Malaysian coffee shop menu became latest political battleground
The row over Oriental Kopi’s omission of Malay in its menu comes just weeks ahead of the Melaka state poll
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Iman Muttaqin Yusof in Kuala Lumpur Published: 3:00pm, 20 Oct 2026 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 election in Melaka, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ’s multiracial alliance Pakatan Harapan (PH) will face off federal partner Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. The Umno -led coalition won sweeping victories in Johor and Negeri Sembilan earlier this year, contesting alone in the former and cooperating with the Islamist party, Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), and its allies in the latter. BN has agreed in principle to cooperate again with PAS for the Melaka state poll. Select Voice Select Speed 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.5x 1.75x 00:00 00:00 1x AI-generated voice
