By Carolyn Hong, Malaysia Bureau Chief

KUALA LUMPUR: The controversy over the fatwa on yoga has taken a new twist with the Sultan of Selangor rebuking the National Fatwa Council for the manner in which it announced the religious edict.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah issued a statement yesterday making an unprecedented criticism of the council for bypassing the Conference of Rulers in issuing the controversial edict.

He said he hoped that in future, fatwas that affected the public would be referred to the rulers' conference first 'to ensure that the method of channelling a fatwa is implemented in a wise manner to avoid any confusion or controversy'.

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