KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — Malay rights leader Datuk Ibrahim Ali accused Commonwealth 2014 host nation Scotland today of being “rude” and “insensitive” for using the country’s Scottish Terrier dogs to introduce each competing nation during the opening ceremony.
On Thursday, 41 “Scotties”, as the miniature dog is famously referred to, led 71 nations competing in the sporting event into the Celtic Park stadium in Glasgow.
Dressed in a tartan coat emblazoned with each of the country’s name, the Scotties, were reportedly the highlight of the opening ceremony as praises poured in on social media website for the dogs.
“Ours is an Islamic nation. The organisers are insensitive and rude,” said Ibrahim, in a brief text message.
“I had spoken to the Daily Telegraph in the UK to state my regret and the inappropriateness displayed of the host nation and the organisers,” he added.
According to several reports, some Scotties had to do a double shift, including a quick costume change, and as a result, several tired and some shy dogs were carried into the ceremony by their owners.
The Herald Scotland reported that the Scottie that led Malaysia into the stadium had refused to walk after a change in costume.
Last year, dog trainer Maznah Mohd Yusof was thrust into the limelight after a four-year-old video resurfaced ahead of the Hari Raya celebration.
The video drew scorn from some Muslims, with many calling it an insult to their religion as dogs considered ritually unclean but not haram.
Muslims, are therefore, required to cleanse themselves by washing with mud and water in a ritual called “samak” every time they came into contact with a dog’s saliva.
