GEORGE TOWN, March 11 ― The Opt-To-Adopt event that was held at Penang Times Square last week was meant to encourage non-Muslims to adopt stray dogs, its organiser has clarified.
The event, jointly organised by Han Chiang College, Save Our Strays and Penang Times Square, courted controversy after a picture of a tudung-clad Muslim woman holding a puppy at the event went viral on social media, attracting criticism from several Muslim groups.
In response, Han Chiang College Chief Executive Dr Chow Yong Neng said in a statement that the event was organised by Han Chiang event management students who are all non-Muslims.
He stressed that the event, held in a public area at the mall in George Town between March 4 and 8, was to encourage non-Muslims to adopt strays as a way to reduce their numbers on the streets.
He added that the event was part of a co-curriculum activity for the non-Muslim students and that they are aware of the repercussions when organising such an activity.
“We can confirm that we do not know the woman in the controversial picture and she is not one of our students,” he said.
The event also resulted in 10 dogs being adopted by non-Muslims, he said.
The controversial picture was shared on social media yesterday and quickly became viral.
Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abd Rahim likened the event to the controversial “I Want to Touch A Dog” event in Kuala Lumpur last year, and subsequently called on the Penang religious affairs department (JAIPP) to take action against the organisers.
When contacted, state religious affairs committee chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said JAIPP will not take action against the organiser or the person seen carrying the dog.
“Islam is universal and it preaches love to not only mankind but to all including animals, environment and everything,” he said.
He pointed out that Islam is clear with this guideline as a complete way of life and that in the Quran, it is known as Islam Rahmatan Lil'Alamin.
The controversial “I Want to Touch a Dog” event organised by young activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi was held at the Central Park in Bandar Utama, Selangor, in October last year and drew nearly 200 volunteers and dog owners.
Many Malay Muslims showed up and participated in the non-profit activity, using it as a chance to get up close to pet the pooches, an animal regarded as culturally taboo.
However, the activity drew widespread backlash from conservative Muslims who argued that touching dogs is clearly prohibited in Islam as the animal is considered unclean and comparable to excrement, but many more progressive ones rose up to defend Syed Azmi.
Some Islamic religious scholars including former Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin counter-argued that if touching a dog is “haram” due to the comparison to excrement, Muslim veterinarians, toilet cleaners and parents too should be deemed “haram” for coming in contact with faeces while working on cleaning up their charges.
Following pressure from hardline Muslims, Syed Azmi issued a public apology soon after.
