Published: Friday April 22, 2011 MYT 7:22:00 PM

National Fatwa Council decides against banning poco-poco dance

SEPANG: The special meeting or muzakarah of the National Fatwa Council has decided not to put a ban on the "poco-poco" dance among Muslims in the country as long as it is practised according to the stipulated regulations.

National Fatwa Council chairman Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said the regulations referred to the guidelines issued by the council in 2007, which reminded the Muslims not to conduct the worshipping rituals of other religions, minding relations between men and women and wearing proper attire while dancing the "poco-poco".

"If they can adhere to the regulations...and if it can bring about positive impact to health, then we have no objection on that matter," he told reporters after chairing the special meeting, here Friday.

However, he said the National Fatwa Council would remain respectful of the decision made by the Perak Fatwa Council to ban the dance in the state as their research showed that it had elements of Christianity and soul worshipping.

The ban was announced by the Mufti of Perak Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria early this year. Harussani, who was also present at the special meeting, explained that the edict banning the "poco-poco" dance was issued after several Muslim associations in Perak started questioning the dance and its rituals.

"That's why the research was conducted. In other states, there is no request for the dance to be studied, and thus, there is no edict issued on the matter," he said.

The three-day meeting, which began on April 20, also discussed issues on the vaccines given to haj pilgrims, the unclaimed conventional insurance compensation and death "khairat" (benefit). - Bernama

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