Made Arya Kencana & Farouk Arnaz, Denpasar/Jakarta – The government is still weighing its decision on holding the Miss World Beauty Pageant amid opposition from several Islamic groups, according to a report on Tuesday.
"The government is still reviewing it while the regional administrations have supported it," said Linda Agum Gumelar, the minister for women's empowerment and child protection.
"We will also take into consideration the length of time that has gone into its preparation and the number of countries participating in the pageant."
The Miss World event is scheduled to be held in Bali and Bogor. The participants will be quarantined in Nusa Dua, Bali, for two weeks and the winner crowned at the final on Sept. 28 at the Sentul International Convention Center in Bogor.
Linda said the organizers had agreed to requests that the event respect Indonesian culture and ethics, including assurances there would be no bikini section.
"We have been assured participants will not be required to wear bikinis. The participants will even wear Indonesian products. However, at this time, we are still gathering public opinion," she said.
On Monday, Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika voiced his support for the event, arguing that it would present Bali and Indonesia in a positive light.
"What is wrong with the Miss World pageant? What are the reasons behind the protests and objections?" he asked.
"Participants will act in accordance with Balinese tradition and culture. The Miss World pageant will not bring any losses to Bali or Indonesia," he added, sentiments that were echoed by Linda in Jakarta on Tuesday.
It will, instead, Pastika said, boost Bali's, and by extension Indonesia's, international reputation and profile.
The Miss World contest has drawn criticism from the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the Islamic People's Forum (FUI) and the more moderate Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI). "We reject Miss World and immoral acts. We want to uphold shariah in Indonesia," said Muhammad Al Khaththath, the secretary general of the FUI, referring to Islamic law.
On Tuesday, 200 people associated with various groups protested at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and the MNC Tower, both in Central Jakarta.
The MNC Tower belongs to media tycoon Hary Tanoesoedibjo, the owner of RCTI, a national television channel that will air the pageant. Some 150 police officers were deployed to monitor the protests.
Khaththath said that the protesters would continue their demonstrations on Friday and march from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the MNC Tower, before going to the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.
The MUI said it opposed the event because exposing a woman's body violated Islamic teachings, according to an official.
The official said the decision by contest organizers to exclude the traditional bikini contest did not overcome the problem because the contestants would still have to wear tight dresses showing their figures.
Suryadharma Ali, Indonesia's minister of religious affairs, and Maneger Nasution, an official at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), have also condemned the contest as not being compatible with Islamic teachings and for putting women's bodies on display.
Pastika dismissed concerns about the contestants exposing body parts normally required to be clothed according to Islamic regulation, saying it was illogical.
The vocal hard-line fringe has succeeded in getting events cancelled in the past. Last year, US pop star Lady Gaga cancelled a concert in Jakarta after protesters threatened to burn down the venue.