International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz was asked today for her whereabouts and the reasons for her silence when Malaysian Muslims and non-Muslims were subject to inspection by sniffer dogs in the country.

Posing the question to her was DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang who referred to the minister's objection to her luggage being inspected by sniffer dogs while entering Australia recently.

In a statement, Lim said Rafidah must prove her consistency by speaking on behalf of other Muslims and not just herself if religion is the issue and not merely an excuse to escape the sniffer dogs at Australia's entry point.

"If Rafidah is consistent, had she ever objected in her two decades as cabinet minister to the existence of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) dog unit and their use against Malaysians, both Muslims and non-Muslims?" asked Lim.

The PDRM dog unit was established in 1968 with six dogs and now expanding to more than 100 dogs which are deployed in all states. Among others, the dogs are used to detect drugs and explosives.

No record

"There had been no record of any protest or objection by Rafidah in her entire public life about the deplorable use of police dogs against Malaysians peacefully assembled to assert their constitutional rights and fundamental liberties," said Lim.

He added that Rafidah should also be aware that dog units are widely used by police forces throughout the world, including other Muslim nations such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

One reason which Rafidah gave for her outburst at having her hand luggage checked by police sniffer dogs three times at different locations was that she is a Muslim.

"I told them I would not allow that as I am Muslim. How could they do such a thing, particularly during the fasting month and when the animal is haram to Muslims? They were so insensitive", she had said.

Rafidah also said that "she was treated like a terrorist" by the Australian officials.

Official protest

The DAP chief said the cabinet meeting on Wednesday must therefore decide whether Rafidah's conduct at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Sydney Conference and her public outburst was acceptable.

However, Lim said Rafidah's other argument which deserves support is that she had been discriminated on selective basis where three out of 27 trade ministers were treated with sniff dogs.

The other two ministers were from Mexico and Lesotho.

"Then, the cabinet should lodge an official protest and demand a full apology from the Australian government unless there is a proper and satisfactory explanation," Lim said.

"It would be unfortunate if Rafidah's episode should be the cause for the latest public spat between Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Australian authorities," he added.

Recently, Mahathir had publicly attacked Australia as an "outsider" in the region and prompting an Australian politician to tell him to take "a running jump".