BANGI, Oct 25 — Religious authorities must do more to educate Muslims to ensure events like “I Want to Touch a Dog” will never be organised again, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) said today after the event organiser’s public apology earlier this morning.

Its president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman said the event itself signalled the lack of understanding about Islam even among Muslims themselves, and the religious authorities must rectify this.

“It is not a question of his apology… this shows the lack of depth in the understanding of Islam. Although the intention was good, it failed to observe shariah or the concept of dakwah (preach).

“It signals confusion. So I feel the authorities should hold a programme that strengthens his (organiser) faith, his way of thinking,” Zaik told a press conference here.

This morning, event organiser Syed Azmi Alhabshi apologised for any discomfort sparked by the event, despite maintaining that it was only meant to help the public overcome their fear of dogs, and not to promote liberalism or distort Islamic teachings.

Isma ulama chief Aznan Hasan, who was speaking at the same press conference, said although Syed Azmi may have had good intentions, his method had failed to take into account local sensitivities.

“His way did not take into consideration cultural sensitivity.

“Say, if he wanted to teach the public about how to cleanse themselves after touching dogs, he should have done it in a different way and not by organising an event to encourage Muslims to touch them,” he said.

Since the event was held last Sunday, Syed Azmi has been the target of hate-filled messages threatening to injure or kill him, forcing him to turn to the police and online regulator Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for assistance.

Detractors have also spread rumours and allegations claiming that Syed Azmi is a covert Christian or a Shiah Muslim out to spread liberalism or alternative teachings.

Norhayati Ismail, 40, another organiser of the event, told reporters today that she has known Syed Azmi for a long time and that he is like any other Muslim who faithfully performs his prayers.

She said she has collaborated closely with Syed Azmi on numerous charity projects and that he was always involved in “anything that is a good cause”.

The “I Want to Touch a Dog” event at the Central Park in Bandar Utama, Selangor last Sunday drew nearly 200 volunteers and dog owners and gave Malay-Muslims the opportunity to pet canines, an animal that many in the community regard as culturally taboo.