The country has a large Chinese population who are preparing to welcome in the new year.

But some shopping malls have decided not to have images of dogs, sparking an online backlash, CNN reported.

Malaysia has a growing Islamic population, with many Muslims observing the practise of ritually washing themselves if they come into contact with a dog.

One shopkeeper at the Sunway Pyramid near Kuala Lumpur said: “This is a multiracial country, when they do something like that it shows disrespect to the Chinese race here.