KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is expected to adopt the National Fatwa Council's edict on the ban for Muslims to practise yoga.

Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran said the edict could be implemented only after a new state law is enacted with the consent of the Yang di-Pertua Negri.

"However this matter would first have to be discussed by the State Fatwa Committee and the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) before getting the TYT's consent," he said when contacted yesterday.

Nasir said the State Fatwa Committee was expected to discuss the matter soon, adding that the state authorities would go through various procedures before adopting the edict.

The National Fatwa Council on Saturday announced that Muslims are banned from practising yoga as it was against Islamic teachings and could erode their faith.

However, on Wednesday Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Muslims could use yoga for exercise so long as no spiritual elements were involved.

Abdullah urged all quarters to understand the content of the fatwa and not to twist facts which could cause confusion.

Meanwhile, a Christian religious leader said Christians should avoid yoga as it was a form of exercise grounded in religious beliefs.

"Why must you get involved in a practice that has an intimate connection with a religion or religious belief?" said Rev James Wong of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia in Sandakan.