Jakim reprimands organiser of 'I Want To Touch A Dog' campaign

The Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim), in reprimanding the organiser of the 'I Want To Touch A Dog' on Thursday, advised those involved to never again organise programmes that touch on the sensitivities of Muslims.

Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said the matter was conveyed to the organiser concerned during a one and a half-hour meeting chaired by the department's Syariah expert panel, Datuk Seri Hassan Ahmad.

He said the meeting, held at the Mines Hotel, Seri Kembangan, went well and in a harmonious manner, was also attended by representatives from the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS).

"At the meeting, the organiser expressed guilt and accepted the reprimand in good faith and promised to be more careful when organising programmes in future," he said in a statement.

With that, he said, Jakim was leaving the matter to MAIS, as the religious authority in the state, for further action and hoped all quarters to stop harping on the issue.

Prior to this, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the meeting between Jakim and the organiser of the 'I want to Touch a Dog' programme would be held to understand why it was held and if there was any hidden agenda.

However, Jamil Khir said Jakim did not have the authority to determine legal action as it was only an intermediary body.

The 'I Want To Touch A Dog' programme, held on Oct 19 at Central Park, One Utama, Petaling Jaya, created a furore among the public, especially Muslims, as it was seen as contradicting the rules of the Shafie sect and customs in the country.

Its organiser, Syed Azmi Alhabsh, had apologised for the uneasy feeling that had been created due to some participants hugging and petting dogs during the event.