IF IT’S TABOO TO YOU, DON’T TAKE PICS WITH THEM – RETAILERS SAY THEY WON’T BOYCOTT ‘DOG & PIG’ DECORATIONS

PETALING JAYA – While several shopping complexes and hotels are playing down the portrayal of canines in Chinese New Year decorations this year, there are those who have no qualms about such displays to usher in the Year of the Brown Dog.

Central Market in Kuala Lumpur has decked its mall with 12 lanterns in the shape of Chinese zodiac for the first time. The set is complete from the rat to the pig, including the dog.

Assistant manager of Central Market advertising and publicity division Ye Kang Xian, in an interview by Sin Chew Daily, said the mall varies its Chinese New Year decorations each year. The mall decided to go with the 12 Chinese zodiac signs for the Year of the Dog.

“Each time when Chinese New Year is around the corner, Chinese would be paying attention to luck and fortune according to Chinese zodiac,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

“We use these decorations for others to understand Chinese culture. This place is also a tourism spot and we are promoting diversity of our country.”

The lanterns featuring the 12 animals went up on Jan 19 and will be on display until the last day of Chinese New Year.

“The 12 animal zodiacs are presented as cartoon characters. Although this is the Year of Dog, we do not highlight the dog by itself.”

Ye said his Muslim colleagues didn’t have any reservations about using dog decorations as they view it as part of Chinese culture.

“In fact they are curious too and keen to find out more about the year they were born and which animal zodiac sign they belong to. Many also see the display as lanterns.”

He said it would be weird if the dog and pig are excluded from the display.

Central Market advertising and publicity division administrative staff Nor Fahana told Sin Chew she views dogs as pets.

She was born in 1994 which was the Year of Dog. “Each animal zodiac has its significance, we are born in Malaysia and should be accommodating,” she said.

Another administrative staff identified only as Lafanah said she does not feel uncomfortable as they are not real animals.

“Since others can accept our tradition, why can’t we accept others?” she said.

Salina, a shop operator in Central Market, said those who feel it is taboo should not take photographs with the lanterns.

– http://www.thesundaily.my