Is it true pet-friendly malls compromised on hygiene, Muslim sensitivity in championing inclusivity?

 

IT seems that backlash is piling up on various social media platforms over the past few days or so against the dozen or so pet-friendly business establishments in Malaysia.

On the other side of the fence are Muslims who are uncomfortable of being in the same vicinity as canines. However, this transcends religious sensitivities to encompass the question of hygiene which in all fairness, not limited to Muslims.

Such was the pertinent point proffered by clinical psychologist Auni Ameera in a Facebook post which highlighted that pets are bound to make a mess ‘for it’s simply their nature”.

The poster went on to ask is having pet fur and droppings in close proximity to food outlets advisable. She also questioned if clean-up crews really do a thorough job cleaning up animal poop and pee.

Editor’s Note: Sunway Square Mall which has been in the limelight for its pet-friendly policy has revised its leniency with immediate effect by banning pets from enclosed indoor areas in line with a Selangor state directive.

This follows a reaffirmation by the Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim that pets remain prohibited in shopping malls inside the state.

Pointing out that this was why many condos and malls do NOT allow malls as pets can cause the spread of diseases, the poster lamented that it was also insensitive to Muslims.

Branding Muslims who are in favour of such pet-friendly malls as “social climbers” trying too hard to fit in with a “kafir lifestyle”, she advised them it is better to just feed a stray dog to show compassion.

The poster’s sense of unease was also shared by a non-Muslim commenter who made it clear she was extremely uncomfortable dining next to table with some so-called furry kids.

It was also highlighted that pets are not allowed in restaurants and malls abroad, save for guide dogs. So why the need to allow it in Malaysia?

Some Muslim commenters saw this as an attempt by pet-friendly malls to distance themselves from Muslim patrons. One just exclaimed “why bother going to such malls?”

This sentiment whereby Muslims were being sidelined or worse – weak in normalising such pet-friendly establishments – was echoed on current affairs platform Tan Sri Syed Mokthar Al-Bukhari Idola Kami Facebook page.

Editor’s Note:  The FB account is in no way related to the DRB-Hicom tycoon.

In a lengthy tirade, the post argues that such moves to evolve with the times and accommodate a more progressive lifestyle simply did not take into account Muslim sensitivities.

On the contrary, when there are attempts to create Muslim-friendly spaces, such attempts are labelled “racist”, “discriminatory” and “not inclusive”.

It was further argued that Muslims were forced to stay silent and to be “accepting and not be overly sensitive” as Malaysia is a multi-cultural entity when issues such as this clearly makes the majority uncomfortable.

This sense of dismay was shared by more than a few commenters with one even describing this pet-friendly environment as nothing but a provocation.

If the intention of pet-friendly establishments such as Sunway Square Mall was to generate some positive PR (public relations), they may have miscalculated somewhat it as it seems to have opened up a whole can of worms. –  Focus Malaysia