Restaurant owner, 50, who faced boycott threats in JB for feeding stray dogs, now flooded with support when tide turned
She addressed the threats of boycotting her restaurant by explaining that dogs were also God's creation.
A restaurant owner in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, apparently received boycott threats after she was seen filming herself feeding stray dogs.
The woman, Masha, 50, opened her restaurant, Restoran Salai Star, just four months ago, in July 2024.
She shared with Malaysia news outlet Free Malaysia Today that her restaurant was doing well for the first two months, but sales dropped significantly in the third month.
Masha recalled "not [knowing] why" and felt discouraged.
"I thought perhaps someone was trying to sabotage me,” Masha told FMT.
Individuals threatened to incite a boycott
The reason became more apparent when she was suddenly confronted by two individuals while feeding stray dogs near her restaurant.
According to Masha, the two men expressed strong disapproval and accused her of violating Islamic norms, saying: "You're Malay, right? Muslim? Why do you want to feed dogs? Dogs are haram, people look at them and are disgusted!"
“Haram” means "forbidden in Islam".
They threatened to spread photos of her feeding the dogs and incite a boycott of her business.
"They said they would make sure the locals would avoid my restaurant," Masha recounted.
In response, Masha took to TikTok on Nov. 20 to explain her actions and address the controversy.
Claims dogs are still ‘God’s creation’
@salaistar Bukan saja2 bagi anjing makan. Dia pun makhluk allah jugak. Perlukan pembelaan. Just bagi makan je. #salaisalailomaklomakbakobako #salaistar #fyp #foryou #joho #anjing #animallover ♬ original sound - SalaiStar
In the now-viral video, the owner revealed that she was merely feeding the hungry strays and had never touched them.
Masha explained that feeding leftover food to stray animals is an act of compassion and reminded viewers that all creatures, including dogs, are part of God's creation.
“Some people sent me messages and scolded me, saying I shouldn’t feed the dog, but the dog is also God’s creation. As an animal lover, my soul is inseparable from them,” Masha said, defending herself in the video.
“If there are leftovers, why not feed them? Why throw it away in the rubbish bin?”
“Allah grants blessings and rewards, so really think about it. Animals are Allah’s creations who want to live on this earth, too.”
Masha also appealed to disapproving commenters to stop sending threatening messages about boycotting her business.
She said: “To those who are sending me messages about boycotting me, I hope you can stop doing that. I hope you understand my intention and please stop damaging my restaurant’s reputation.”
Milo, the stray dog who follows feeder around
One particular dog, Milo, who appeared in Masha's video, holds a special place in her heart.
“I fed Milo, the stray in my video, after encountering the two individuals. I remembered their boycott threats and felt sad. Milo is a good dog, he’s not the type to come into my shop. He just wanted food from afar, so I fed him some distance away from my premises,” Masha clarified.
Masha's son, Khairin, who helps run the restaurant, also spoke out in defense of his mother’s actions.
“We don’t hold the dogs or hug them – we don’t even touch them,” Khairin explained.
“We make sure cleanliness and halal practices are always observed. But if an animal needs help, we help. It’s not an issue.”
Wave of support after controversy
Her TikTok video had since garnered more than 200,000 views, with many praising the feeder for her empathy towards animals.
Several social media users reshared the video, encouraging people to support her business rather than tear it down.
One Malaysia outlet, Kisah Jalanan, also shared her video on Facebook, which has since gained more than 30,000 likes and 8,000 comments, with many expressing support for the owner.
The author of the Kisah Jalanan Facebook page acknowledged that keeping dogs is considered haram, but argued that feeding them — especially when they are hungry — should be allowed, as it is an act of kindness.
Surge in business
As a result of the video and the overwhelming support online, Masha's restaurant saw an unexpected surge in customers.
Business picked up so quickly that it shocked her.
“People began coming to support my restaurant and offer words of encouragement. I felt bad because we weren’t able to offer the best service due to the sheer number of customers,” Masha told FMT.
Nonetheless, Masha expressed immense gratitude for the support she was receiving from her customers.
Top images taken from Salaistar/TikTok
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