‘ No issues on CNY dog logos’
> Just use them in right places, advises Pahang mufti
KUALA LUMPUR: The use of the dog sign in Chinese New Year decorations by commercial outlets should not be an issue, Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Osman ( pix) said.
However, he said such decorations should be used at appropriate places and not at mosques.
“If someone were to use the (dog) image, it would have to be at appropriate places,” he told theSun recently.
“Shopping malls are fine. One would not place an image of a pig in front of a mosque, would they? Should Muslims wish to join in the festivities, they may do so but moderately.”
His comment is in line with a statement by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) that the use of animal symbols and images during Chinese New Year is something that must be respected.
“Even though animal symbols are used during Chinese New Year, the concept of coexistence ( fiqh taa’yush) dictates that all parties need to respect this practice and maintain harmony among all races,” said Jakim director-general Tan Sri Othman Mustapha on Tuesday.
“This is in line with the government policy of using a wasatiyyah (moderate) approach.
This view is also shared by others. For freelancer Aisya Shurfa, she was puzzled that the use of a canine for such purposes would be “seen as offensive”.
“Dogs are cute. I’m not sure how an image of a dog is offensive. All Malaysians I know are cool with dogs, so I don’t think there’s an issue,” she said yesterday.
Online editor Mohani Niza echoed a similar sentiment, saying there was no harm in using a canine’s image. “We live in a society with many ethnic groups and religions. There’s nothing wrong with dogs. As Muslims, we are simply told to ‘samak’ (religious cleansing method) when we touch one, that’s all.”
Nabihah, a mother of one, noted there is a sensitivity among some Muslims on the issue.
“Personally, I believe there’s no problem (using) dog images in shopping malls or public spaces.
“It’s haram (not permissible) to touch a dog, not when seeing it. It’s just an image and since this year, according to the lunar calendar, is the Year of the Dog, we can’t be using a picture of a monkey instead,” she said. But, there are Muslims against it. The Muslim People’s Coalition president Amir Amsaa Alla Pitchay advised it would be wiser to use a Chinese deity’s image instead.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism said cultural and hygiene sensitivity among a diverse community should be taken into consideration.
However, its president, Datuk Mohan Shan, said it’s only when an actual dog is brought in as part of a public celebration should we respect such sensitivities but just “the use of banners with it should not be an issue”.