Jakarta – The Miss Indonesia beauty contest, which has been banned for the past four years following opposition from Muslim groups, is to be held again this week with full government support.

Chairman of the Miss Indonesia Foundation, Ms Mooryati Soedibyo, said the contest, to be held from tomorrow to Saturday, would be attended by 30 women from 25 of the country's 26 provinces.

The newly-elected Miss Universe 2000, Ms Lara Dutta from India, is expected to attend the event. "The contestants will be judged based on their intellectual ability, behaviour and beauty," said Miss Mooryati.

She said the grand final of the beauty contest will take place on Saturday at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park) and be attended by some 1,000 people.

The State Minister for Women's Empowerment, Ms Khofifah Indar Parawansa, said the government supported the event. But she said contests such as these should view women as an asset, not a commodity to be exploited. "So, whoever wins the contest will be one of the country's assets and not merely a tourist commodity," Ms Khofifah said.

Minister for Tourism and the Arts Hidayat Jaelani said he hoped the event would help restore the country's image, which has been tarnished badly by social unrest and political uncertainty.