KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The Selangor chapter of right-wing group Perkasa lamented the ease with which “gullible” Malay Muslims joined a pet-a-dog event, going so far as to touch the animal for the first time.

The Malay rights group accused the event’s organisers of dividing Muslims, arguing that there may have been a hidden agenda to persuade Muslims to commit acts prohibited by the faith.

“The action of the organisers encouraging Muslims to touch dogs deliberately or without any emergency was as if there is a hidden agenda to change the thinking of Muslims to accept what has been prohibited by the religion as a common thing or culture,” Selangor Perkasa chief Abu Bakar Yahya said in a statement on the group’s Facebook page.

“If today there is a programme encouraging Muslims to touch and hug dogs as a common thing, let it not be one day Muslims asked to find the nerve to hug pigs instead,” he said, stretching the logic of the argument.

Abu Bakar questioned the organiser’s intention of correcting public perception of dogs, saying baldly that Muslims neither avoided nor hurt dogs.

“Selangor Perkasa hopes no party will hold events which can spark conflict among Muslims,” he said.

Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Othman, Selangor Mufti Datuk Tamyes Abdul Wahid and Johor Islamic Religious Council advisor Datuk Nooh Gadut said it is “haram” or forbidden for Muslims to touch dogs, Malay dailies Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia reported yesterday.

The “I Want to Touch a Dog” event organised by Syed Azmi Alhabshi on Sunday was held at the Central Park in Bandar Utama, Selangor, drawing nearly 200 volunteers and dog owners and giving Malay Muslims the opportunity to pet the pooches.