Yoga to be banned in Malaysia

Disclaimer: Nothing against any religion.

Source: The Straits Times

Oct 29, 2008

Ban on yoga for muslims?

KUALA LUMPUR - MUSLIMS in Malaysia may be barred from the ancient practice of yoga if they engage in Hindu 'religious elements' during the exercise, a top Islamic cleric said on Wednesday.

Mr Harussani Zakaria, a controversial cleric from the northern Perak state, said the government-backed National Fatwa Council would soon release a decree, or 'fatwa', which would decide if Muslims were allowed to practise yoga.

'If it involves any faith or religious elements it is definitely not permissible but if it is just a form of exercise that is all right,' Mr Harussani said.

'Muslims cannot practice yoga in its original form because it involves another religion,' he said in response to a call to ban Muslims from engaging in yoga.

Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of the population of 27 million are Muslim Malays who practice a conservative brand of the religion.

The practice of yoga, a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur, dates back thousands of years in India, where it was a favorite of holy men before becoming hugely popular internationally, especially among western celebrities.

Prof Zakaria Stapa, a professor in the Islamic faculty of the National University of Malaysia, had called on Muslims to stop practising yoga, saying it could cause them to 'deviate from their faith', news reports said on Wednesday.

Muslims in Malaysia practised yoga not just for exercise but also as part of the growing urban lifestyle and involved 'chanting mantras while in various positions', he said.

'Why should we look for other alternatives to exercise and search for peace? Yoga could cause (Muslims) to stray from their faith because its movements are according to the style and traditions of Hinduism,' he said.

The fatwa council, one of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies, last Friday banned women from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion. -- AFP

Improvise!

Kids, you can never tell what they will/can do next...



My thought after watching this: the boy is very street-smart.

Discrimination to flat-chested motorists

Its amazing what the lawmakers (in Vietnam) can come up with.

Source: StraitsTimes 

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Oct 29, 2008

Yes to flat-chested motorists?

HANOI - COMMUNIST Vietnam has suspended a much-criticised plan to ban very short, thin and flat-chested people from driving, state media reported on Wednesday.

The new draft guidelines on motorcycle and car drivers had drawn widespread criticism and ridicule from motorists, newspaper readers and bloggers since they were published by the health ministry two weeks ago.

Under the 83-point plan, people shorter than 1.5 metres, lighter than 40 kilogrammes or with a chest circumference of less than 72 centimetres would no longer qualify for new drivers' licences.

The proposal worried many in this nation of slender people and spurned jokes about traffic police with tape measures enthusiastically flagging down female motorcyclists, and predictions of a run on padded bras.

The justice ministry has asked the health ministry to temporarily suspend and review the plan, the Vietnam News daily reported.

'After receiving public opinion about the decision, the health and transport ministries agreed there had to be changes,' senior health department official Tran Quy Tuong was quoted as saying by the state-run daily. -- AFP

Need a break

I really need a break...rethink what I want to do...organise my stuff...do what I really loved....

I need a break...from my life.

Simple life

...eat...shag...shit...sleep...(in no particular order)

Preparing...

... for the ultimate physical challenge of my life.

Quick tour of HortPark

Went shopping for my new shoes at Queensway, so hop over to HortPark for a quick tour.