The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) has apologised over the "mistake" in its Chinese New Year advertisement publicised in a Chinese daily.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the ministry attributed the cock-up to a technical error in the advertisement.

"KPDNKK would like to extend a million apologies for the publishing of the Chinese New Year advertisement. It is due to a technical error in the advertisement.

"Happy Chinese New Year for those who are celebrating and Happy Holidays to all Malaysians. Gong Xi Fa Cai!" read the statement.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that the full-page advertisement published in Sin Chew Daily, depicted a rooster crowing, or rather barking, "Wang! Wang!"

The word “wang” is used in numerous Chinese New Year advertisements this year to depict a dog barking but its original meaning is prosperity.

According to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, this Chinese New Year ushers in the Year of the Dog replacing the previous Year of the Rooster.

The advertisement also carried a message, which read: “We welcome a prosperous year of the dog. We wholeheartedly wish people from all walks of life a happy lunar new year.”

Yesterday, CNN reported that the omission of the dog from Chinese New Year decorations has caused concern among Malaysians of all faiths.

The article said the move is seen as “yet another symptom of the country's growing Islamic conservatism, driven by the government's flirtation with hardline Islamist policies and a cultural shift by religious students returning from the Middle East.”

CNN also stated that Sunway Pyramid shopping mall, which decided not to display dogs because they wanted to be respectful to what they perceive as Muslim sensitivities, suffered for its decision with calls for a boycott of the mall.