I refer to the Malaysiakini report Fatwa Council under fire for banning yoga .

The National Fatwa Council has declared that yoga is haram in Islam and Muslims are banned from practising it. ‘We believe that it is inappropriate for Muslims to do yoga.’

The council has declared that practising yoga, when it comes together with the three elements (of physical movements, chanting and worshipping), is haram ,’ the council chairperson told a press conference.

He noted that while merely doing the physical movements of yoga without the worshipping and chanting might not be against religious beliefs, Muslims should avoid practising it altogether as ‘doing one part of yoga would lead to another’.

‘In Islam, a believer must not do things that can erode one’s aqidah or faith. Doing yoga, even just the physical movements, is a step towards erosion of one’s faith in the religion, hence Muslims should avoid it,’ he said.

I applaud this move by the council, one that is extremely visionary in its execution. They have obviously done thorough research and have more than sufficient evidence to prove that participation in yoga has led to the detriment of many a Muslim's faith.

I eagerly look forward to them publishing the results of this research, as I am sure their decision was based on facts and was not made arbitrarily.

It is very heartening to note that in a time of where issues such as global warming and global economic decline are grabbing the headlines and the thoughts of many an intellectual, the members of this council have hit the nail on its head and brought to the forefront an issue that is dear to all of us, and will adversely affect the spiritual growth of our nation.

The council should continue to studiously not produce statements regarding the state of governance in our country and focus on the very essential matters.

Fatwa regarding our responsibility for the environment, or even issues that have been around for decades such as the ' haram -ness' of smoking cigarettes (a product that only serves to kill, and goes against the tenet of looking after the body that was given to us by God) will have to take a backseat as we tackle the more important issues of the day .

I look forward to the day when fatwa are issued against activities such as watching Bollywood movies, practising tai chi , reading works of western philosophy, using the Gregorian calendar, glimpsing Michaelangelo's Pieta (or any other work of art based on Christianity) and listening to Handel's Hallelujah Chorus are all banned, as they are based on works/ideas of other religions /ideologies and will lead to the dilution of a Muslim's faith in Malaysia.

In fact, the council should encourage the banning of all books that contain thoughts and ideas that they do not agree with.

A bonfire should be built sometime soon to commemorate this event, and this should be followed by the introduction of law prosecuting thought crimes. And we can then all look forward to everyone being perfect Muslims and the beginning of heaven on Earth.