MSIAN MINISTRY HAS NO OBJECTION TO MUSLIM WOMEN WEARING 'FULL-FLEDGED' SPORTS ATTIRE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Youth and Sports Ministry will not
stop Muslim athletes from wearing sports attire that covers their body
completely, at any competition, including international competitions.

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the gold medal
feat by national shooters Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi and Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul
Halim in the 10m Air Rifle competition at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games last
year shows that attire is not a hindrance to success or winning.

"Even though they were wearing head scarf and full-fledged attire, they were
able to achieve success.

"A similar success was also achieved by Bahrain sprinter Ruqaya Al Ghasara
who won the women's 200m in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar wearing a
hijab," he said at the Senate here Thursday when answering a question from
Senator Mumtaz Md Nawi on the rational for women wearing attire that reveals
their body parts when competing in sports, just like the men.

Ahmad Shabery said the Ministry or the National Sports Council (NSC) does
not have the right to determine the type of attire worn by athletes because it
comes under the jurisdiction of their respective world bodies.

For example, in sports like body building or some combat sports, athletes
are expected to wear a specific attire.

"Apart from that we have no objections to Muslim athletes using attires that
cover their body parts," he said.

To a question by Senator Mohd Najeeb Abdullah who wanted to know of
the new regulation by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), requiring woman to
wear skirts, especially during the 2012 London Olympics, Ahmad Shabery said a
final decision has not been made.

"Many countries have raised their objection to such a request, thus players
continue to use their own standard attire. In Malaysia though, it may not be an
issue because there are no signs that Muslim women will play competitive
badminton," he said.

-- BERNAMA