KL - did we take a wrong turn somewhere?

As previously mentioned, Kuala Lumpur is a salad bowl of people and religions. We were walking through one of the Indian sections enjoying the markets and looking for a place to eat. As we continued walking the surroundings changed and there were no longer any Indians, but we were now in a Muslim section. While we were enjoying the diversity of it we stumbled upon this sign: Yup. Anti-American propaganda because of America's relationship with Israel. So this sign is calling for all Muslims to stop buying American products such as Coke, Starbucks and even Colgate toothpaste because, in their thinking, buying those products supports the U.S. which then supports Israel.

They listed two websites to find out further information on the topic. These sites tell you which products to buy as alternatives to evil American products. One is:
http://www.muslimconsumer.org.my/
The other, as you may be able to see in the picture, is a blog on our own blogspot.com!
-- uh, so let's boycott American products, except for blogspot?

Two of the products featured on the sites are Coca-Cola alternatives... Qibla Cola and Mecca Cola. Qibla Cola's president is quoted as saying that his brand is "a real alternative for people concerned about the practices of some major Western multinationals who support causes that oppress Muslims."

However both products look remarkably similar to Coke cans and from what I've since read they taste so similar that they are on the "verge on infringement" but that Coke would never win a lawsuit in countries where these products are sold and that Coke would end up looking bad in the Muslim world if they actually sued these "Muslim" companies.

I asked my Olmsted Scholar friend in KL about this sign and come to find out this program is actually a Malaysian government sponsored program! While the government is technically separated from any affiliation with religion, the official religion of the country is Islam... yeah, my friend couldn't quite explain that one either.

At any rate, Malaysia is currently pushing for a free trade agreement with the U.S., but at the the same time they are promoting a boycott of American goods. Makes sense, right?