Several minutes after tendering an apology to animal rights NGO ‘Save Our Strays’ (SOS) for claiming it held a 'Adopt-A-Doggie' event for Muslims, the Penang Kini portal launched into another diatribe against the group.

In its latest posting via Facebook, Penang Kini, an anonymous community page on Facebook, demanded an apology from SOS for allegedly allowing a tudung-clad Muslim woman to hold a dog during its canine adoption drive event held last  Sunday.

"The photo of the Muslim woman carrying the puppy has also been shared widely. SOS should be responsible for whatever happened in its programme," said Penang Kini.

The portal said its grouse was not over the innocent dogs but over the sensitivities of Muslims whom it claimed felt hurt by the incident.

"Don't just think only SOS can feel slighted by this matter. This Facebook page administrator and Muslims also feel the same regret over the photo," Penang Kini said.

Earlier, Penang Kini had apologised for its posting yesterday which said: ‘A programme for Muslims to touch dogs has spread to Penang. Where is Malik Kassim’.

(Abdul) Malik Kassim refers to the Penang executive council member in charge of Islamic affairs in the state. Malik, who is also PKR's Batu Maung assemblyman, is currently overseas.

Joint press conference plan

The Penang Kini Facebook administrator said that although they (Penang Kini) had tendered an apology, SOS  persisted in being "arrogant", demanding for a public apology via the media.

SOS founder April Sham has left comments on the Penang Kini Facebook post criticising the page administrator for dragging in religion into the charity event which the NGO jointly organised with a group of young Han Chiang College students.

Sham had told Malaysiakini last night the organisers had said that the event was for non-Muslims only but added they had no power to prevent anyone from dropping by the do held at Penang Times Square.

She described the Penang Kini Facebook page as ‘low class’ for not contacting SOS for clarification first. Sham said SOS plans to invite Penang Kini to tender its apology and clear the air about the controversy at a joint press conference.

This spat comes soon after the 'Touch a dog' event organised by Syed Azmi Alhabshi (pix, above) - which attracted quite a large crowd - in Kuala Lumpur last year causing a stir with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department which promptly hauled him up for questioning.

Syed, who hails from Johor and is a keen charity programme coordinator, received death threats for organising the event in which Malays were taught how to cleanse themselves (from a religious viewpoint) after handling dogs.