The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIAN social media users have slammed a government newspaper ad depicting a barking rooster to welcome the lunar new year as a deliberate slight to the Chinese community and a sign of the government’s insincerity.

In a full-page advertisement on February 15, one day before the Chinese New Year, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry featured a rooster emitting the words “Wang!Wang!” which is used to depict a dog barking, and also translates to “prosperity” in Mandarin.

The Chinese welcomed the year of the dog this year.

Following public outrage, the ministry issued an apology over the matter, saying it was due to a “technical mistake”, but did not give further explanation.

Facebook user KC Loo said the gaffe was a “joke”, and said he anticipate similar issues next year, which welcomes the year of the pig.

“Next year will be Pig Year, guess they will ‘wrongly put a Guinea Pig poster’,” said Loo.

The pig and dog are deemed “unclean” animals in Islam, which is the official religion of Malaysia.

Other users dismissed the ministry’s “technical error” excuse, saying the incident is not the first time the government has been insensitive to the culture of minorities.

“Doesn’t seem like a ‘technical mistake’, feels more of a conscious decision to replace the actual zodiac due to reasons known. Disappointing,” said Sean Teoh on Facebook.

“Next Year will be chicken squealing like a pig,” said user Michael CW Ng.

“Always having mistakes show their half heartedness and insincerity… in their greetings.”

It was unclear how the ministry confused a chicken for a dog, a fact that some social media users said pointed to the lack of competency in the ministry.

“I cannot fathom how such a mistake can occur. Putting an office boy to do and officer’s job? It’s an insult nevertheless!!!” said Terence Yeoh.

“Mixing up chicken & dog is a mistake? Primary pupils also will not make such mistakes,” one user named Joe Tan said.

This year, shopping malls and retailers have shied away from depicting the dog in decorative items for fear of offending the mainly Muslim community, prompting critics to fear rising Islamic conservatism in multicultural Malaysia.

Apart from the rooster ad blunder, Petronas also came under fire over the issuance of white-coloured ang pow, or red packets filled with money which are traditionally given out during Chinese New Year.

Petronas said the design was reproduced from original artwork in the Galeri Petronas art collection.

“The packet showcased a Chinese ink painting from the Petronas art collection, which depicts the welcoming of a new dawn and hopes for the new year.

“The light-coloured background, however, has been mistaken for white, which in Chinese culture, is considered inauspicious,” it said in a statement published on its official Facebook page. 

Petronas said it was never its intention to overlook cultural sensitivities and has produced a new red design for its ang pow. – February 17, 2018.