PETALING JAYA, Malaysia: The implementation of the National Fatwa Council's edict on yoga seems to be facing some hiccups in Selangor and Perak.

The Sultan of Selangor has said the edict cannot be implemented in his state yet as the state Fatwa Committee had yet to deliberate the matter.

In Perak, an earlier statement that yoga was banned in the state had to be revoked as the matter had not gone through several procedures including obtaining the consent of the Sultan.

The council had on Saturday issued a fatwa (edict) declaring yoga as haram (forbidden) for Muslims as it said that it contained physical movements, chanting and worshipping.

Yesterday, the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said in a press statement issued through his private secretary Datuk Lela Bakti that the Selangor Fatwa Committee would meet to deliberate the matter "in greater detail so that a decision is not made hastily."

The Sultan said that once the state committee had made a decision, it would then be forwarded to him for approval in line with state laws regarding the administration of Islamic affairs.

The Sultan said he hoped that in future any fatwa that touched on an issue which affected the general public would be referred to the Rulers Conference prior to being announced.

"This is to ensure that the method of channelling a fatwa is implemented in a wise manner to avoid any confusion or controversy," he said.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the Government would be getting advice from the state Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) on the ban.

"The state government needs Mais' advice on how to manage and monitor yoga," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Perak Islamic Religious Depart- ment (Jaip) director Datuk Jamry Sury withdrew his statement that Perak would adopt the fatwa.

He said that as Jaip director, it was beyond his jurisdiction and discretion to make a stand on a religious matter which was the prerogative of the Sultan of Perak.

"The fatwa cannot be adopted in Perak yet because it has not been discussed by the State Fatwa Com- mittee and brought to the attention of the State Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council before being presented to the Perak Sultan for consent," he told Bernama yesterday.

Jamry had on Sunday said that Perak would abide by the fatwa by the National Fatwa Council.

Jamry, who is also the secretary of the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, said that a public announcement would be made after a meeting on Dec 9.