KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s reassuring statement on the fatwa on yoga issued by the National Fatwa Council.

MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said Abdullah’s explanation had cleared all misunderstandings or misconceptions on the fatwa among Malay­sians and that it could be accepted by everyone.

There has been opposing views by various quarters and confusion after the council banned yoga for Muslims as it involved chanting of mantra and acts of worship which are against Islamic teachings.

Subramaniam, who is also Human Resources Minister, hoped that with the explanation there will not be any more misunderstanding on yoga.

In George Town, Muslims who practised one or another type of traditional exercises said yoga could provide a good form of exercise.

Universiti Sains Malaysia communication lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Mustafa Kamal Anuar, 57, said his faith had not wavered despite practising yoga in his late 40s.

“I don’t think Muslims’ faith is so fragile that we can be swayed into Hinduism with a few movements here and there. It’s a bit insulting to think we can be so easily duped into another religion,” he said, adding that yoga helped him gain stamina and taught him proper breathing methods.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s (IIUM) History and Civilisation student Shamsiah Mukhtar, 22, said the council could have been overzealous in its decision to ban yoga.

Amirul Iman Dollah, a karate exponent educated in Chinese schools, agreed with the outgoing Mufti of Perlis Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin’s stand that yoga could be practised as long as there was elimination of Hindu elements.