KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 -- Boycotting major brands in Malaysia will have unintended consequences to the local economy including undermining Muslims who own or work for these firms, said the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM).

Its director-general, Datuk Dr Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil, said boycotts may backfire as large companies like McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut are among the biggest corporate taxpayers in Malaysia and whose largest shareholders are Muslims.

"It is feared that emotionally-driven boycotts without proper planning could undermine the economy of Muslims themselves. This action also affects the job sector, especially involving local workers employed by the boycotted entities, who may face pay cuts or job loss," he...