Nik Aziz: Event organisers have worms in their heads

PETALING JAYA: The organisers of the “I Want To Touch a Dog” event have “worms in their heads”, said Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

Harakah Daily quoted the PAS spiritual leader as saying that such an event contradicted the Syafie school of thought.

“Organising an event specifically to touch dogs is done by those who have worms in their heads,” he said after attending an event at the Kelantan Trade Centre on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Mohd Iqbal Parjin, the cleric who participated in the event at Central Park Bandar Utama, viewed the event as an opportunity to deliver an Islamic message to Muslims and non-Muslims.

In his Facebook posting, Mohd Iqbal said he had explained the relevant procedure of handling dogs according to the Syafie school of thought.

“I do not agree with the kissing and hugging of dogs. Dogs should not be touched unnecessarily,” he added.

Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa said the programme organisers had applied to the council on Oct 3 to hold the event to educate the public on the Islamic perspective on dogs.

He, however, said in a statement yesterday that touching, hugging and kissing dogs on purpose are against Islamic teachings.

Mohamad Adzib said the event organisers had not matched their programmes with the objectives stated in their letter to Mais.

He said guidelines issued to the organisers by the Selangor Mufti’s office on Oct 9 also stated that Muslims were forbidden from touching dogs, whether they are wet or dry.

“The act of touching is considered ‘najis mughallazah’,” he said, adding that if a Muslim wanted to keep dogs to protect their homes or for hunting, they should keep the animals outside to avoid the household from being in contact with any canine impurity.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said it would carry out an investigation into the programme.

Federal Territory PAS deputy Youth chief Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusof expressed concern that such events would lead to other things such as inviting Muslims to a sex festival.

In a statement, he said there was a valid reason for concern after recent events like Topless Friday and Octoberfest.

“We are worried that one day, someone will organise a ‘sex and condom’ campaign, based on the rationale of safe sex and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“We consider such events a threat to the religious and cultural values practised in this country and not because we are paranoid,” he added.