Grab donates RM1m for Gaza amid boycott calls

Grab Malaysia will be donating RM1 million for humanitarian aid to Gaza, through non-profit organisation Mercy Malaysia.

The donation comes amid backlash against the company - including calls for a boycott - for allegedly siding with Israel in the recent conflict.

In a statement, Grab said it was deeply saddened by the plight of those affected by the conflict in Gaza and condemned violence that threatened humanity.

“Grab Malaysia aims to meet the critical needs of those impacted by helping provide access to medicine, food, water supply, and more, ensuring that their well-being is prioritised,” it said.

Besides its own RM1 million donation, the company said users can also donate to Mercy Malaysia using the GrabPay e-wallet or by converting their GrabRewards points.

Previously, Instagram posts made by Grab’s founder Anthony Tan’s wife went viral and prompted boycott calls against the e-hailing, food delivery, and financial services company.

On the Stories feature on Instagram, Singaporean Chloe Tong, 32, shared how she was “heartbroken” and that she “fell completely in love with Israel” during her two extended trips there this year and how her seven-year-old son shared the sentiment.

After the backlash, she clarified the screenshots were “taken out of context” and were from posts she made “before I understood all that is happening with Israel and Gaza”.

Grab also issued a statement saying the company was “on the side of humanity”.

Meanwhile, Grab Indonesia also faced backlash and boycott calls over the incident.

The Indonesian arm of the company donated 3.5 billion rupiah (RM1.05 million) for Gaza yesterday, through crowdfunding site BenihBaik.com.

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