Cover image via Ainas Lee (Facebook)Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
A retail shop in Teluk Intan has apologised after a customer complained that a dog was allowed inside the store and seen sitting in one of its shopping trolleys
The incident first came to light after a customer shared a post in the local public Facebook group "I ♥️ Teluk Intan", which has over 235,000 members, on 4 August.
In the post, the customer claimed the dog had been sitting inside a shopping trolley while many shoppers, including Muslim families, were inside the store.
She said she and several other customers questioned staff about why the animal had been allowed into the premises, alleging they were told the employees "didn't know" how it happened.
The customer also expressed concern that Muslim shoppers may have unknowingly used the same trolley afterwards, saying they may have needed to perform sertu, the Islamic ritual purification process required after contact with certain impurities according to Islamic practice.
The post quickly attracted attention online and prompted the retailer to issue a public response.
The company said it immediately sought guidance from Islamic religious authorities
In a statement published on 5 August, Yin Onn (Teluk Intan) Sdn Bhd said its management met with the Teluk Intan Islamic Religious Administration Office to obtain advice on the proper cleaning procedure.
Following the guidance, the company said staff carried out the sertu process by washing the affected areas with water mixed with clean soil, followed by six rinses with clean water.
The company said the cleaning covered all shopping trolleys and affected areas within the premises to ensure cleanliness and ritual purity.
The shop has also introduced several new measures after the incident
Besides carrying out the ritual cleansing, the retailer said it has:
- Installed "Haiwan Peliharaan Tidak Dibenarkan / No Pets Allowed" signs at the entrance.
- Re-briefed all staff on the standard operating procedures for handling similar situations.
- Tightened internal monitoring to prevent similar incidents.
- Planned to replace existing shopping trolleys with new ones.
The company also apologised to customers for the concern and discomfort caused, saying it takes the incident seriously and recognises the need for stronger preventive measures.
However, the retailer has declined to release CCTV footage over privacy concerns
In a later update posted the same day, Yin Onn thanked customers for their feedback, saying it allowed the company to respond quickly and seek guidance from religious authorities.
The retailer also addressed calls for CCTV footage to be released, saying it would not upload any recordings to Facebook or other social media platforms because they could also capture other customers whose privacy should be protected.
The company reiterated its apology and said it remains committed to maintaining both the cleanliness and ritual purity of its premises while ensuring similar incidents do not happen again.
