NGO lodges police report against 'I Want To Touch A Dog' organiser

A Malay non-governmental organisation, Pertubuhan Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM), today lodged a police report against the organiser of "I Want To Touch A Dog" campaign for demanding the event be held in Putrajaya and nationwide.

MJMM president Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah wants the authorities, including police and Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) to ensure the programme which was held in Bandar Utama recently will not happen again as it is an insult to Islam.

"We are against the organiser of the programme who wants the event to be held in front of the prime minister's office and nationwide. We want the authorities to arrest the organiser and stop him from promoting the campaign nationwide," he said.

Syed Azmi Alhabshi, the man behind the event, has received much criticism and negative feedback claiming that the event was against Islamic teachings after the event last Sunday.

Meanwhile the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) chairman said that what transpired at the 'I Want to Touch a Dog' event last Sunday did not match the original objectives of the event as stated by the organisers in their application letter.

According to Bernama, Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa said he was made to understand that the event was initially organised to provide an understanding of the Islamic principles concerning dogs.

He said in the organisers' Oct 3 application letter, the programme was aimed at showing Muslims the real need to help dogs in emergency situations and to explain the principles which allow Muslims to keep, touch and manage dogs, as well as the proper cleansing methods after handling the animal.

"I accepted the proposal for the event to be held and had discussed it further with one of the organisers. In fact, I have also discussed it with the Mufti of Selangor and passed the event proposal to him," Mohamad Adzib said.

However, he said the act of holding, hugging and kissing dogs by Muslims, such as what happened on the day of the event, was in contravention of the principles of Islam.

He said the Selangor Mufti Department, in a letter dated Oct 9, stated that even though humans had benefited from dogs, Muslims were still forbidden from touching them when either the person or the dog was wet, as the dog would then be considered unclean.

"If the dog is kept to guard a house or for hunting purposes, it should be tied up outside the house to avoid contact," he said.

by Nabilah Hamudin