MALAYSIA SORRY IN AD COCK-UP

Malaysia sorry for Chinese New Year Rooster Ad Cock-up.

Malaysia has apologised after a government ad in Chinese language newspapers featuring a picture  of barking rooster to mark the Year of the Dog sparked a flood of mockery.

The full-page advert by the domestic trade, cooperatives consumerism ministry showed a rooster emitting the word ''wang'', used to represent a dog's bark in Mandarin.

The advert, printed in Chinese-language newspapers in the multi-ethnic country on Thursday, also carried a message welcoming a-

''Prosperous Year of the Dog.''

Chinese New year is being celebrated across Asia, marking the start of the Year of the Rooster.

Ethnic Chinese are a substantial minority in mostly Muslim Malaysia, making about a quarter of the population.

The ad sparked mockery online.

While some lambasted the government for what they saw as  a picture mix-up, others thought it was  a cack-handed attempt to avoid using a dog image as the animals are considered unclean in Islam.

''It reflects nothing but mere stupidity,'' said Facebook user Tony Yeo.

[Agencies].