KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — A federal minister today dismissed a religious official’s assertion that the iconic eagle statue in Langkawi was "haram,” adding that the latter’s statement was no more than an opinion.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz added that the statue was merely a landmark and was not used for any religious purpose.

"That is his opinion, it doesn’t merit any comment. As we all know, we do not use the statue for prayers,” he was quoted as saying by local daily the Star today.

On Friday, Perak deputy mufti Zamri Hashim had in a column in local daily Berita Harian wrote that it was forbidden in Islam to make full-bodied statues of living creatures such as humans or animals, citing consensus of Muslim scholars from all Sunni schools of jurisprudence.

Defending his deputy’s views, Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said on Saturday that the construction of replicas or monuments resembling living creatures was forbidden.

Separately, Kedah’s exco in charge of religious affairs, Datuk Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid suggested that the controversy be referred to the mufti department of each state, with the decision to be then implemented state-wide.

The Langkawi Tourism Association, however, has strongly objected to the suggestion to demolish Langkawi’s iconic eagle statue here as it said that Lang Square, the area where the landmark is located, has been a key tourist attraction over the last 20 years.