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GEORGE TOWN: The Zumba event to be held in Sunway Tunas, Bayan Baru, on Aug 31 will go on as usual although a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has expressed its displeasure over it.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon said Monday that the show would go on although Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang secretary Muhsin Abdul Latheef had said the event was disrespectful towards a fatwa (Islamic ruling), which he claimed was issued by the Sabah mufti.
“I have checked with Penang mufti and they have no problems as long as the participants are properly clothed and have their aurat covered.
“It is an individual sport, no holding of hands and close physical contact. It is held public.
“There is no ban on Zumba under the state’s fatwa. Nevertheless, the mufti office will carry out observation on the dance from time to time.
An online news portal had earlier reported that an NGO was crying foul over a Zumba event planned to be held on Aug 31.
The dance was part of a series of activities organised by Jalan Tengah Utara JKKK in conjunction with Merdeka celebration from 7pm to 10pm. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part in the carnival sort of celebration.
The NGO had earlier pinned the blame on Mohd Rashid, saying as a person with a religious background, he should be more aware and sensitive towards the matter. A banner of the event with Rashid’s photograph was spotted in Bayan Baru.
Mohd Rashid said he would not comment on Sabah’s mufti ban on Zumba dance.
“In Penang, we have decided to take a progressive approach, that is to promote healthy lifestyle.
“Those who claimed Zumba is un-Islamic should give their justification. It depends on how you construe an action?
“We are living in a society and it is a norm to mix around between men and women in the public,” he said.
Penang’s pioneer Zumba instructor Lisa Lim was upset over the call and said the dance had nothing to do with religion.
“There are plenty of Zumba instructors of different races and religions throughout the world.
“I would say that if the instructor has presented the dance in a right way, issues like this will never appear,” she said.
Zumba is an aerobic exercise that incorporates Latin dance moves and elements such as hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, martial arts and some Bollywood and belly dance moves.
It was created by accident by Colombian fitness instructor Alberto ‘Beto’ Perez in 1990 when he forgot to bring the music tape for his aerobics class. Forced to improvise, he used the only tapes he had in his backpack, which were of salsa and merengue music.
