Harussani must explain poco-poco ban, says Abim
By Syed Mu’az Syed Putra, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — The Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) asked Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria today to explain Perak’s fatwa banning the poco-poco dance.
Its president Muhd Razak Idris said that the Perak mufti must explain how the dance was against Islamic teachings to avoid confusion.
“The Perak mufti must explain in detail about the issue as it has become a matter of public debate. Surely he has based this on Syariah law,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.
The Perak Fatwa Committee’s banning of the dance in January has split Muslim opinion but Harussani insisted yesterday the ban will remain even if the National Fatwa Council (NFC) approved the dance when it meets on April 20.
The committee banned the dance as research showed that poco-poco had elements of Christianity and soul worshipping as practised in Jamaica.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir also said the state administration would accept the decision of the state fatwa committee.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, also said the decision should not be questioned.
However, former Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said the dance should not be outlawed but Muslims should not be allowed to practise if they were doing so out of beliefs that went against the Islamic faith.
The maverick scholar said if the dance was for health purposes and not mixed with other elements such as alcohol and free sex, then it was not haram.
