Jakim: It’s okay to use images of dogs

‘All parties should respect the Chinese community’

PETALING JAYA: Using images of dogs for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations is something that must be respected by all, says the Malaysian Islamic Development Department.

Jakim director-general Tan Sri Othman Mustapha said according to the Islamic concept of co-existence as well as Malaysia’s practice of moderate Islam, it was something that needed to be respected to maintain harmony among all races.

“According to the concept of fiqh taa’yush (co-existence), all parties should respect the Chinese communi- ty in using symbols of animals for their New Year celebrations.

“This is in line with the wasatiyyah (moderate) approach that has become the Government’s policy,” Othman said in a statement.

He said the spirit of co-existence needed to be understood with wisdom by the people in order to ensure unity among Malaysians of all faiths and ethnicity.

Jakim’s statement came following recent reports of some businesses and shopping malls opting to soft-pedal using images of dogs in their Chinese New Year decorations.

Dogs are considered “unclean” under Islamic tradition and Muslims are required to carry out a ritual of washing themselves if they were in contact with the animal.

But in Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal that follows a 12-year cycle.

The Year of the Dog begins on Feb 16. The 12 animals include a pig, another animal which Muslims consider unclean.

In 2016, Jakim recommended popular pretzel chain Auntie Anne’s to change the name of its “Pretzel Dog” to “Pretzel Sausage”.