“I personally don’t like their presence” — Neelofa’s Husband Proposes Ban on Keeping Dogs as Pets

Recently, a case involving a toddler who was mauled by a pack of five dogs sparked concern and outrage among Malaysians.

The victim, a two-year-old girl, suffered serious injuries in the attack, which occurred outside her grandmother's house in Kampung Tambak, Sungai Kelambu, Peserai.

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It is alleged that the dogs were strays that had been abandoned by hunters who previously used them to hunt wild boar at a nearby oil palm plantation.

Following the attack, the toddler was placed in an induced coma before being transferred to a hospital in Johor Bahru for surgery. She is now reportedly in stable condition.

Celebrity preacher shares his thoughts on the matter

Unsurprisingly, the incident has left many Malaysians concerned about public safety, particularly the safety of young children.

Local celebrity preacher Haris Ismail, better known as PU Riz, also took to social media to share his views on the issue and offer a suggestion.

Image Credit: NST

In a post on Threads, PU Riz shared his personal opinion on members of the public keeping dogs as pets.

"If you don't mind me saying this, people in Malaysia should not keep dogs as pets. It aligns with religious teachings. Our religion already sets very strict conditions, and people living in urban areas generally have no need to keep dogs for purposes such as guarding farms."

PU Riz, who is also the husband of Malaysian celebrity and entrepreneur Neelofa, expressed sympathy for those who have been attacked by dogs, noting that some victims had come close to losing their lives. He also shared that he is personally uncomfortable with having dogs around.

He added, "I personally don't like the presence of dogs, whether they are pets owned by non-Muslim neighbours or stray dogs. I'm sorry if you disagree, but this is just my personal opinion."

Netizens weigh in

The post has since attracted significant attention online. While some agreed with his concerns regarding attacks involving stray dogs, others argued that banning pet dogs would not address the root of the issue.

"So does that mean all innocent dogs need to be disposed of? What about their rights as God's creatures?"

Image Credit: @hrisbismail | Threads

Image Credit: @hrisbismail | Threads

Image Credit: @hrisbismail | Threads

Featured Image Credit: Media Hiburan, Unsplash