KUALA LUMPUR, 26 August 2020 – In conjuction with Merdeka and Malaysia Day, McDonald’s Malaysia is once again embracing its ‘Malaysian-ness’ by having the Mekdi signage at selected restaurants nationwide. This comes as the company celebrates 38 years since opening its first McDonald’s restaurant at Bukit Bintang. The signage for Mekdi – which is the localised nickname for ‘McD’, short for McDonald’s – was officially displayed at a celebration held at McDonald’s Putrajaya Drive-Thru restaurant, and will also be prominently put up at 16* selected restaurants across various states in the country.
What’s even more exciting, the 16 restaurants were chosen by Malaysians themselves, who were given the power to vote for which McDonald’s restaurant should display the Mekdi signage.
“Fondly known to Malaysians as Mekdi, McDonald’s has become the brand it is today because of the unwavering support of our customers. The Mekdi name created a lot of excitement last year when we first revealed the signage at our iconic Bukit Bintang restaurant, and this showed how Mekdi truly resonated with Malaysians from all walks of life. So this year, we wanted to pay tribute to more Malaysians across the country by turning their favourite McDonald’s into a Mekdi as well,” said Hajjah Melati Abdul Hai, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s Malaysia.
In celebration of all things Malaysian this month, McDonald’s Malaysia will be bringing a new twist to its popular Nasi Lemak McD. Customers can now have the additional option of having the all-new Rendang Ayam served with fragrant coconut rice, crispy anchovies, fresh cucumber, and fried egg, topped with spicy sambal. Additionally, customers can also choose to have their Nasi Lemak McD with either Spicy Chicken McDeluxe Cutlet or Grilled Chicken Burger (GCB) Cutlet.
McDonald’s is also infusing local flavours into its dessert menu with the all-new McFlurry Cendol, which features delicious Gula Melaka, coconut bits, creamy vanilla soft-serve, and Cendol jelly. Exciting local desserts such as Corn Pie and Cendol-flavoured ice cream are also making a comeback.
McDonald’s Malaysia – A renowned global brand that is Malaysian at heart
According to Hajjah Melati, McDonald’s Malaysia embraces the very essence of being Malaysian, from its food, to its people, as well as the causes that the company champions.
“We are living through unprecedented times. The pandemic tested our business operations on so many levels, and we are grateful to our customers for sticking with us through this challenging period. We’re also proud to see our crew stepping up and ensuring that strict safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) are adhered to at all McDonald’s restaurants nationwide. This underscores the #KitaBoleh spirit that our people have embraced,” said Hajjah Melati.
The #KitaBoleh concept is a nationwide call by McDonald’s Malaysia – that started in March this year – to herald the silent bravery of the frontliners who continued on their work as Malaysians stayed home during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
With over 14,000 employees in 300 restaurants across the country, McDonald’s Malaysia also prioritises talent and skills development among its workforce. With plans to open 450 stores by 2025, McDonald’s Malaysia also targets to add 10,000 more employees to its workforce.
“Our aim is not only to maintain a strong reputation in the food service industry, but also to be a company that nurtures our talent and helps them build meaningful careers. This, we hope, would raise the standards of human capital development in Malaysia,” Hajjah Melati added.
McDonald’s Malaysia is also a strong community player, encouraging all its restaurants nationwide to give back to local communities by organising various initiatives such as meal donations to local charities, Teacher’s Day celebrations as well as flood relief efforts. Through Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), McDonald’s Malaysia continues to support programmes that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. Another initiative close to McDonald’s heart is the ‘Back-to-School’ programme, which has benefitted 53,000 urban poor primary school children since 2017.
Nasi Lemak McD with Rendang Ayam and Nasi Lemak McD with Spicy Chicken McDeluxe cutlet or Grilled Chicken Burger (GCB) cutlet are now available at all McDonald’s Malaysia restaurants nationwide. The Nasi Lemak McD set with 1 piece Rendang Ayam McD and an Iced Lemon Tea is priced from RM16.99, while the Nasi Lemak McD set with Spicy Chicken McDeluxe or Grilled Chicken Burger (GCB) cutlet and an Iced Lemon Tea is priced from RM14.99.
For more information on McDonald’s exciting menu offerings this Merdeka month, visit www.mcdonalds.com.my.
