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SHAH ALAM – Popular Malaysian burger chain myBurgerLab has dismissed its chief operating officer Andrew Chong after a personal social media remark linked to a hot-button issue on Terengganu’s new fines for Muslim men who skip Friday prayers, triggered backlash.

The state government’s move to impose penalties on Muslims who neglect the weekly congregational prayers without valid reasons made global headlines this week, spotlighting Malaysia’s balance between religious governance and civil rights.

It was against this backdrop that Chong commented on a social media post discussing the decision.

“Wow.. slowly but surely if Malaysia is taken over by extremism, we will become Iran after the revolution ie. what you see today, and that should scare everyone,” Chong wrote in a post that has since been deleted.

The remark quickly went viral and drew strong criticism, with many accusing him of disrespecting Islamic values.

The burger chain swiftly issued an official statement on Instagram to distance itself from Chong’s views.

“We are deeply saddened by a personal social media post from our former COO, Andrew Chong, which has caused rightful anger, disappointment, and pain, especially among our Muslim friends by disrespecting Islamic values.

“This was not an official myBurgerLab statement and does not reflect our core principles of respect, unity, and inclusivity for all Malaysians.”

The company confirmed it had terminated Chong’s employment effective Aug 22, 2025, and announced corrective measures to restore trust.

As part of its corrective actions, myBurgerLab announced it will roll out mandatory cultural sensitivity training in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) within 30 days, followed by annual refreshers.

The company also said it would conduct policy reviews to prevent similar incidents and open dedicated public feedback channels to allow customers to share their input directly.

“Trust is earned through actions. We pledge greater vigilance to ensure myBurgerLab remains a symbol of Malaysian harmony where everyone feels respected. We are profoundly sorry and humbly seek your forgiveness as we rebuild your trust,” the management said.