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Pig or wombat? Hari Raya ad draws flak in Kuala Lumpur

A Servcorp ad in Kuala Lumpur featuring a wombat dressed in a songkok, drew flak after some Muslims mistook it for a pig. 
A Servcorp ad in Kuala Lumpur featuring a wombat dressed in a songkok, drew flak after some Muslims mistook it for a pig. 

An Australia-based company in Malaysia has been told to take down a digital billboard ad featuring a wombat dressed in a songkok, following complaints by some people who mistook it for a pig.

In a statement, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it had taken the move to "avoid negative public perceptions,” while stressing that the image in the ad was that of a wombat.

According to reports in the Malay Mail Online and The Rakyat Post, the ad was put up by Servcorp, a serviced office and virtual office provider. It featured a Selamat Hari Raya greeting by the company’s mascot, Sydney the Wombat.

The Malaysian Digest reported that the issue first came to light when the Friends of BN - Barian Nasional Facebook page shared a video recording of the billboard, together with the caption: "Tidak Menghormati umat Islam apabila iklan raya di billboard memaparkan seekor khinzir berpakaian baju melayu dan bersongkok dengan ucapan Selamat Hari Raya" (No respect for Muslims when the Raya ad on the billboard shows a sogkok and baju Melayu-clad pig wishing Selamat Hari Raya).

The consumption of pork is haram (forbidden) in Islam, while the pig is considered offensive to Muslims.

Some Facebook users like Ajoy Yusof took offence: “Do you know that pig is haram (forbidden) to Malay/Muslim....please change it or we will report your company to authority and sue your company for making fun of the Muslim and Malays”.

Others like Mikaeeel Najillah were more circumspect: "It's not a Babi. Just observe the mascot. It happen be look like a Babi because the screen is pixelated. This animal is under Koala Bear family.

Meanwhile, Servcorp has issued an apology for the ad, explaining that "the wombat itself is a small furry bear like animal that belongs to the Koala Bear family and is native to Australia."

A screenshot of the Servcorp Malaysia Facebook page, where it apologised for an ad that inadvertently caused offence to Muslims. 
A screenshot of the Servcorp Malaysia Facebook page, where it apologised for an ad that inadvertently caused offence to Muslims.