KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The organiser of a pet-a-dog event, at which some Malay Muslims touched the animal for the first time, must suffer from a particular ailment called “worms in the head”, PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat declared today.

He slammed the organiser of the “I Want to Touch a Dog” event and used the opportunity to attack liberal schools of thought in Islam which he said serve up bizarre, possibly deviant ideas.

“Organising a programme specially to menjamah (hold) dogs is only done by those who are like those who have worms in the head. This is against the Shafi’i school (of jurisprudence),” the influential leader of the Islamist party was quoted as saying by party organ HarakahDaily.

The “I Want to Touch a Dog” event organised by Syed Azmi Alhabshi drew nearly 200 volunteers and dog owners. Malay Muslims were given the opportunity to pet canines, an animal that many of the community regard as culturally taboo.

The event held at Central Park in Bandar Utama, Selangor, last Sunday raised concerns among Muslims.

Other PAS leaders have already expressed their displeasure. PAS central committee member Nasruddin Hasan and PAS Youth deputy chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi said yesterday caressing an orphan’s head would have been the better option, although they did acknowledge that dogs have a place in Islam.

Today, Federal Territory PAS Youth deputy chief Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusof argued that opposition to the event was not borne of paranoia, but from a need to preserve the sanctity of Islam in multiracial Malaysia.

Ustaz Mohd Iqbal Parjin, who was reported to have been present at the event showing Muslims the cleansing ritual required of them if they had handled dogs, said he never condoned unnecessary contact for those of the faith.

He later added on Facebook that such events must account for local sensitivities.

Several senior Islamic clerics, notably Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Othman, Selangor Mufti Datuk Tamyes Abdul Wahid and Johor Islamic Religious Council advisor Datuk Nooh Gadut, were yesterday reported as saying that Muslims are forbidden from touching dogs as the animals are considered “unclean”, according to the Shafi’e teachings as practised in the country.

However, former Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul said Islam allowed Muslims to keep dogs for hunting and protection, which meant that adherents were not forbidden from touching the animals.

The country’s foremost Islamic religious authority Jakim has said it will investigate the event and and question its organiser, Syed Azmi Alhabshi.