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    SingaporeScene

    Man complains about Muslim prayers at McDonald’s outlet

    By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene – Fri, Aug 19, 2011

    The man known as Alex Chang, sparked off the debate after he questioned why fast-food giant McDonald's play Muslim prayers at their outlets during dinner time. (Yahoo! photo)The man known as Alex Chang, sparked off the debate after he questioned why fast-food giant McDonald's play Muslim …

    A man has generated heated debate online after he posted comments questioning why McDonald's allowed the Muslim prayers to be played at one of its restaurants.

    The debate first started after a man known as Alex Chang posted his comments on the McDonald's Facebook wall on Thursday.

    He had asked why the fast food giant's outlets are playing the Muslim prayers during  dinner time at its restaurants. "Can I request to play Buddhism chant on Vesak Day? Please advice," he asked sarcastically.

    While he was identified as a SingTel employee, it was uncertain how this came to light. Chang also did not state the McDonald's outlet which he was referring to.

    SingTel could not be reached when contacted by Yahoo! Singapore.

    His remarks on the issue drew a few comments explaining that the reason could be Muslims are breaking their fast. In response, Chang said, "Not trying to be disrespectful. But a bit irritating during dinner time. Not respecting other religion(s) at all."

    "By the way, can you tolerate if they play Buddhist chime in the restaurant?" he added.

    This was the exchange which took place when Alex Chang first posted his comments on the McDonald's Facebook wall.This was the exchange which took place when Alex Chang first posted his comments on the McDonald's Facebook wa …

    Posting a statement on its Facebook page on Friday, the fast food chain stressed that it respects all races and religions equally, adding that it had to remove some posts from its wall.

    "We hope everyone understands that we've had to remove a number of wall posts on our page. We encourage all our Facebook fans to be respectful to one another," it said.

    Two hours after McDonald's posted the statement, Chang issued an apology for his comments, saying that it was not meant to be "racist".

    "I would like to apologise for the comment that was posted on the McDonald's website.
    It was not meant to be a racist remark which has offended so many people including our Malay friends. Sorry for my ignorance," he said.

    Meanwhile in a separate statement on its Facebook page, SingTel emphasised that it is an "equal opportunity employer" and has a diverse and multicultural workforce.

    "We have clear company values and guidelines and do not tolerate discrimination. We expect our employees to be personally responsible for the content of their personal posts online.

    "We are disappointed that an employee recently posted comments that were seen to be inappropriate and we are counselling him," it said.

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    1,661 comments

    • mohdm
      mohdm  •  8 months ago
      do undo to others ..peoples will do to you...stop ill fated feelings..toward others.
    • topdog
      topdog  •  8 months ago
      you don't like stop going there la.. simple. anyway, no matter how much one prays if inside is rotten what's the point? unless of course, if your praying is just for show.
    • Thuraisingam
      Thuraisingam  •  8 months ago
      MacDonald's should not mix business and religion ! This time you are giving leeway to Islam. Next time the turn of the Christians will come and so will adherents of other religions push for their religious songs and paraphrenalia be displayed in Mac's compound. Will Mac agree to that. If Mac thinks that they can juggle with religions like a juggler who juggles balls in a circus, they are sadly mistaken because even expert jugglers sometimes fail to catch the juggling balls . However fair you think you can juggle, one day it is going to fall through and only then will you realize that appeasing the desires of many different religous group is not worth the efffort because religious heretics cannot be appeased however fair a judge you are. Of course the Moslem market is a big market in this region but has as been the experience of most American companies , running American made product business in Moslem countries has its hazards. Even as lately as 2004 after the invasion of Iraq , the twin towers incident and the incursions into Afghanistan, many moslems boycotted American made products like Coca Cola,KFC and so on as they believed these products are directly connected with Zionism , the antithesis of Islam. So MacDonalds should refrain from giving sustenance to any one religion so as not to alienate other customers who invariably belong to so many different persuasions. Take the middle path. Refrain from getting embroiled in the religious polemics of the Malay Archipelago..
      • Zorro007
        Zorro007 8 months ago
        @Thuraisingam - If Mac won't agree, you have to be patience also.
    • Emancipation...FTG.
      Emancipation...FTG.  •  8 months ago
      ..with Love Peace & Harmony!
    • martol
      martol  •  8 months ago
      I am not interested in commenting this joker's complaint. I am only interested in Big Mc, GCB. Mc Flurry. As for my wife, she only prefer Fillet O Fish. My big son will go for all avialable at McD. His younger brother, anaything he orders must be Double.
    • seapopeye
      seapopeye  •  8 months ago
      Well I must say you are not allowed to open your mouth with the truth, If you do some one is offended, Mostly religious persons that object . It sure shows there compasion .No one seems to have any tollerance any more . Especially the company this fellow worked for . He gets in hot water for asking a question , seems funny to me , you have to be a suck ass today .
    • Big Sam
      Big Sam  •  8 months ago
      I think it is a good idea to play appropriate religious songs during every religious festivities, regardless of whatever the religion, so that the hardcore fanatics may appreciate other religions as well.
    • DLMWS
      DLMWS  •  9 months ago
      I am Chinese and see that it is really nothing wrong if 1) has the Mgt's approval to play the prayers 2) during Ramadan to indicate break fast...

      Let us All live in Harmony and Peace... Respect each other and practise tolerance..... tolerance is the KEY!!!

      Hey look at all the chaos everywhere else..... Here we have multi races and living sooo okkkkie though never ever perfect..... but we are Unique cos we all know that!!!
      • war
        war 9 months ago
        @ Amber--love u

        coz im a Malay Muslim, it's a call for Muslims to break their fast not a prayer and it happens only during Ramadhan not on normal days. Nonetheless,it lasts only for few minutes. Tolerance is the key here..
      • White Christian Crusader
        White Christian Crusader 9 months ago
        I can guarantee that Alex Chang is a Chinese Malaysian who have migrated to Singapore bcos Singapore is a majority Chinese nation giving the vast of cultural opportunities to any Chinese from Indonesia, Malaysia & China of course, to work, advance in their career opportunities, stay & make Singapore their home in order to ensure that the govt of SGP is able to keep up with the dwindling local Chinese Singapore population & to counteract the steady rise of the Singapore Malay Muslim population. Of course, he would expect Singapore to be a Chinese chauvinist nation & never that he would expect that private establishments like McDonald's would cater to a minority race. Just put yourselves in a Malaysian Chinese shoes who have emigrated to Singapore, then you will understand the disappointment of a Chinese from Malaysia living in Singapore only to expect McDonald's to cater to the minority Malay Muslim in Singapore.
      • BlueC
        BlueC 9 months ago
        PRC couple vs Indian Curry, Alex Chang vs Muslim chant ,Teacher couple vs Singaporean .... I got Muslim friend, Indian friend, PRC friend Ang Moh friend..... I just hope people take a step back. These are all isolated case. Everyone need some respect from others. Same everyone need to respect each other. If someone don't understand your believe, teach them in a nice way, but don't Just whack them down. Give them a chance. Forgive if you could. Can you feel the sunshine?

        Cheers Singapore!
    • Didi
      Didi  •  8 months ago
      Halo guys n girls its a little tiny issue,
      Y r we debating ? It's abt the volume level??
      I would say all food outlets tat patronized by Muslims during fasting month shld managed these kind of privilege!....McD shld not blast out loud the call of prayer as tat place is a public place n not a mosque...McD we appreciated you going the xtra miles but shld think of your other customers too!
      ALL FOOD Outlets Control ur Volume!
      Beat it Prayer or Music ,should U blast the volume its very very irritating to ears!

      Selamat Hari Raya to All !
    • Nie
      Nie  •  8 months ago
      counseling? fire him instead. he is already given a hint for being the next troubled empoyee in the near future.
    • Freedom
      Freedom  •  8 months ago
      One word for all the Alex Chang who making the comment on Muslim preyer call at Macdonalds....Racist Sons of Bitches....!! Singapore no place for Racist!!
    • Mathew
      Mathew  •  8 months ago
      For years we have been tolerant but it works both ways.Lately I see the `you must be tolerant to our ways but I can say and do as I please...`Not fair -lah!
      How I wish we can keep our religion to our own private homes and keep it from interfering with our day to day work and play. If we can do that we`ll be far ahead of our neighbours. Wiseman
    • Joe
      Joe  •  8 months ago
      Singapore sounds screwed up. There is no way muzzies should be practicing their religion in Macdonalds. This leads to beheadings and suicide bombings.
      • Fisabilillah......
        Fisabilillah...... 8 months ago
        Singapore Macdonalds sounds like a good spot for the islamic extremist to test their new time bomb.
      • Zorro007
        Zorro007 8 months ago
        @Joe - then how many in Singapore had been beheaded?.
    • Patriot
      Patriot  •  8 months ago
      This is plain stupid and irresponsible comment. I have many Malay muslim friends and some of them are amongst the nicest people I have known. It takes time and effort to get to know people who are not like us. Believe me after knowing them for a while , they are no different from you and me with the same aspiration and problem that we face everyday. We live in a multicultural enviroment and its a blessing that we get a multitude of different culture, religion and way of life. Imagine how boring if its all the same. Sure, if its Vesak day, go ahead to do the chanting, we can live with it.
    • Alfred
      Alfred  •  8 months ago
      Yesterday, I was having a Family Dinner at a 5 Star Nongya Restaurant in Malacca and when it was time to Break Fast, the Restaurant played a Muslim Prayer. We don't find it offensive or irritating because it was for a short 5 to 10 mins..
      Just imagine, if the Buddhist during the 7th month, celebrate the Ghost Month with their Dinners and Burning of Joss Papers for the deceased, and the people from other Religions start to criticise or hale all kinds of abusing and insensitive comments.....What will happen? If the Christians sing their Christmas Carols, and people from other Religions start to criticise or hale all kinds of abusing and insensitive comments... What will happen?
      Do you really want start another 60s Riot? IT IS NOT FUNNY YOU KNOW? YOU BETTER WAKE UP OR IT WILL BE TOO LATE THEN..
      • Buck
        Buck 8 months ago
        Al, you should have waited until after the prayer and then stood up and sang "Amazing Grace". All 6 verses. The shock would have worn off after the first verse. After the second they would have carried your body and head out on different stretchers.
      • chinhomiah
        chinhomiah 8 months ago
        The restaurant is in Malaysia. Where does it have a choice. Here is secular Singapore.
      • Sweetvoice
        Sweetvoice 8 months ago
        In Malaysia is is fine to do and acceptable because that is their culture and traditions. Here it is secular Singapore. It is not the norm yet until challenged. And do Singaporeans want to challenge it - probably not, but this McDonald will probably loose a lot more business during Ramadan. That is how I see it.
    • merkz
      merkz  •  8 months ago
      Aex Chang, see what u have done??? i believe u have juz learnt a painful lesson here...keep ur opinion to yourself unless u r a politician...luckily the netizens did not start a petition to ban u fr entering McDonald's...hehehe
      • VomitO
        VomitO 8 months ago
        muslims will behead him soon, don't worry.
      • Suneetha R
        Suneetha R 8 months ago
        @Vomit. Look outside your window now...see those white things flying around all without heads? They are coming for yours...
      • changeinside
        changeinside 8 months ago
        @VomitO - It sickens the mind to think that beheading is the only solution you have. Get a Life!!
    • VomitO
      VomitO  •  8 months ago
      If you let the Muslims play their preyers in McDonalds, the next logical step is Beheadings in McDonalds.
    • Saine
      Saine  •  8 months ago
      McDonald is calling all Muslims .. BREAK YOUR FAST HERE!
    • George Pìmpington
      George Pìmpington  •  8 months ago
      I understand what this guy is saying. It drives me nuts to have to be subjected to anyone's religious b/s in public. Keep your god in your heart, home, and place of worship. That's where it belongs.
    • Azmi
      Azmi  •  8 months ago
      Cool everyone......lets bury the hatchet everyone....there's no issue all these moment,thanx to the joker whom uses his butts,not his his brains before starting an issue...I wonder how/what kind of life this joker live his life like, or with.....maybe monkeys,some old dinos,cavesman or something...i belief u've caused so much damage with ur attitude & foul mouth...
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