EDITORIAL : THE NEW STRAITS TIMES, MALAYSIA

Out of step

ILL-CONSIDERED pronouncements of haram by religious leaders have a way of putting Malaysia on the map, on the world's TV screens and in newspapers and news websites everywhere -- but for the wrong reasons. Such was the case with the recent outlawing of the line dance poco poco to Muslims in Perak. That the mufti's ruling was disputed by his counterpart in Kelantan and the former Perlis mufti is justification enough to call for a more stringent consultation with specialists, both religious and secular, before any public announcements are made. Premature edicts can lend themselves to ridicule and opens the ulama who make them to mockery. Islam is more democratic and less autocratic than the Perak mufti implies with his unilateral decision. Islamic law, after all, rests for the better part on consensus among experts (ijma), based on informed judgment.

As it was with the controversy surrounding the fatwa on yoga, much is made about the vulnerability of the faith of Muslims. Yoga, with its Indian origins, is alleged to be Hindu in form and function -- never mind the fact that it has become so popularised and internationalised as to lose any and all religious meaning. Poco poco, meanwhile, is accused of a Christian heritage, although there have also been claims of its provenance in harvest festivals in Indonesia. By a simple leap of ignorance, it is argued that Muslim practitioners are susceptible to backsliding, even though the jig itself may not directly offend religion. Unlike with yoga, this time, some good sense intervened. The National Fatwa Council on Friday clarified that poco poco was permissible under the Guidelines on Spiritual Practices in Traditional Malay Dance 2007. As with yoga in general but to a lesser extent, poco poco is an aerobic exercise, not ritual prayer or obeisance. Apart from having some communal fun, staying healthy is the rationale and surely good health is to be encouraged.

Perhaps just as important is the effect of keeping the faithful segregated in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation. Limiting Muslims' socialisation through cultural and entertainment activities can impair integration. Islam speaks of diversity as a positive attribute to facilitate understanding and enlightenment, which brings about progress. Unlike most Muslim countries, Malaysia wants to be, and is known, for its modern brand of Islam. Some ulama conservatives, however, appear determined to turn the collective Muslim mind into a ghetto where souls are under constant threat of diabolical takeover. Thankfully, there are those in the Islamic Development Department who are just as keen on taking Malaysia's ummah to the 21st century.