McDonald’s, or rather, more fondly known among the locals in Malaysia as Mekdi has been a big part of our lives, and I’m here today at McDonald’s Bukit Bintang, the very first McDonald’s restaurant that opened its doors in Malaysia 40 years ago. Yes, Mekdi has been around for 40 years in Malaysia, people. And I remember my happy memories with ‘Mekdi’ from my growing years to my adulthood. I had birthday parties in McDonald’s.Whenever people talked about McDonald’s, I would remember celebrating my birthdays with friends, my first date ever with my husband when we just started dating, late night study sessions right before college’s final and even our son’s birthday were celebrated at ‘Mekdi’. McDonald’s is definitely not just my regular restaurant where I get a quick meal, but it’s a place where fond memories are made.
Here’s yours truly at McDonald’s Bukit Bintang and I’m excited to share with you the unveiling of the iconic McDonald’s Fries crosswalk.
The crosswalk was officially unveiled on 15 March by YB Dato’ Seri Dr. Shahidan Bin Kassim, Minister of Federal Territories, as well as YBhg. Dato’ Azmir Jaafar, Managing Director and Local Operating Partner of McDonald’s Malaysia, at McDonald’s Bukit Bintang.
The crosswalk is located at the heart of the city. What makes this even more special is that this crosswalk is located right in front of the McDonald’s Bukit Bintang restaurant – the very place that’s dubbed as the Malaysia version of Shibuya crossing.
Yours truly at the McDonald’s French Fries crosswalk. In all honesty, the crosswalk is really insta-worthy.
Curious why the McDonald’s French Fries was chosen as the icon? When eating the McDonald’s French Fries here in Malaysia we all know how creative we Malaysians can get when it comes to food. How many of you like to pour your fries on a tray and create a mountain of fries to share with friends? Or dip your fries in your sundae for that sweet and savoury treat? These are the joys of having our iconic French Fries – it tastes great but also evokes a sense of joy and fun with family and friends.
“We are confident that this crosswalk will add to the beauty of Kuala Lumpur and make it a must-see destination for tourists from all over the world. And with the announcement of the Malaysian borders reopening on 1 April, we hope that tourists visiting KL will not only shop at the Golden Triangle, but also experience feel-good moments at McDonald’s Bukit Bintang and take photos of our Fries crosswalk. With this new iconic crosswalk, we are extending our support to the Ministry of Federal Territories and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in enhancing its socio- economic development initiatives to make Kuala Lumpur a more prosperous city by 2030.” Melati Abdul Hai, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s Malaysia said when asked about the McDonald’s aspiration for the iconic McDonald’s Fries Crosswalk.
McDonald’s remains committed to contributing to the nation’s economic recovery, as it announced its five-year business expansion plans earlier this month. As part of its Vision 2026, McDonald’s Malaysia will be investing RM1.35 billion over the next five years to open 205 new restaurants, as well as offering more than 50,000 career opportunities for Malaysians by the year 2026.
McDonald’s French Fries not only tastes good but it also brings people together and creates feel-good moments, so it’s no surprise that McDonald’s fries continues to be one of the most popular items on their menu. It’s called the world-famous fries for a reason and is enjoyed by millions of people every day around the globe.
If you’re ever in Bukit Bintang and happened to see the iconic McDonald’s Fries crosswalk, do experience how it’s like crossing over. Take some pictures, videos and maybe some TikToks, and have some ‘I’m lovin it’ good time at our beloved Mekdi.