A retail shop in Teluk Intan has apologised after a dog was seen sitting inside one of its shopping trolleys, sparking concerns among customers and triggering widespread discussion on social media.
The incident came to light after a shopper shared photos in the Facebook group “I ♥️ Teluk Intan”, claiming the dog was allowed inside the store while many customers, including Muslim families, were shopping.
According to the customer, several shoppers questioned staff about how the dog managed to enter the premises. She alleged employees responded that they did not know how it had happened.
The customer also raised concerns that Muslim shoppers may have unknowingly used the same trolley afterwards, which could require them to perform sertu, the Islamic ritual cleansing process.
Perform sertu process
Following the incident, Yin Onn (Teluk Intan) Sdn Bhd issued a public apology and said it immediately sought guidance from the Teluk Intan Islamic Religious Administration Office on the proper steps to take.
The company said staff carried out the sertu cleansing process by washing the affected areas with water mixed with clean soil before rinsing them six more times with clean water, as advised by the religious authorities.
According to the retailer, the cleaning covered all shopping trolleys as well as the affected areas inside the store.
New measures introduced
To prevent similar incidents from happening again, the retailer said it has introduced several new measures, including:
- Installing “No Pets Allowed” signs at the store entrance.
- Re-briefing staff on the proper procedures for handling similar situations.
- Strengthening internal monitoring.
- Replacing the existing shopping trolleys with new ones.
The company also apologised to customers for the inconvenience and said it takes the matter seriously.
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