Malaysian PM wades into yoga row

Agence France-Presse - 11/26/2008 10:38 AM GMT

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Wednesday waded into a row over a ban on yoga for Muslims, saying they could practise the exercise as long as it had no spiritual elements.

Malaysia's highest Islamic body, the National Fatwa Council, on Saturday banned yoga for Muslims, saying it could erode their faith.

But the decision triggered uproar from moderate Muslims, and from royal state rulers who are considered the guardians of Islam in the country and are demanding that they consider the issue before it is banned.

"I wish to state that a physical regime with no elements of worship can continue, meaning, it is not banned. I believe that Muslims are not easily swayed into polytheism," Abdullah told state media.

Abdullah said Muslims who performed yoga exercise without chanting Hindu mantras could carry on with their activity as it was good for their health.

"What I understand from the decision of the National Fatwa Council is that it was aimed at explaining to Muslims the implications of yoga practice," he said.

He also said that the "fatwa" or religious edit banning yoga would only be implemented if it received consent from a council of state rulers.

Once a state gazettes the fatwa, it will become part of the law.

Malaysia's population is dominated by Muslim Malays, and the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities are becoming concerned over rising "Islamisation" of the multicultural country.

http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1804729