McDonald's Malaysia instructed its outlets in Miri, Sarawak, to remove the notice allowing only halal cakes on its premises, a political secretary to Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem has said.

The aide, Michael Ting, said this followed Miri branches of McDonald's being the only outlets in Sarawak that have followed Peninsular Malaysia in putting up the notice.

"They had received an instruction from their headquarters to take down the notice to complement the tolerant spirit in Sarawak,” Ting is quoted as saying by Borneo Post.

Ting said it was a "wise move" and a positive response to the strong objection from Sarawakians.

He added that McDonald's should not extend its policy of disallowing cakes without halal certification into its premises in the state.

“It is always Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s stand that racial or religious extremism has no place in Sarawak as Sarawak practices a culture of tolerance, moderation and mutual understanding towards all races and religions,” Ting is quoted as saying.

A check by Borneo Post revealed a number of McDonald's outlets in Miri denied putting up the 'halal cakes only' notice, while an outlet in Sibu removed it after briefly putting it up.

When contacted, McDonald's said it "politely declines any further comment on this matter for now".