INDONESIAN MISS WORLD CONTEST SPARKS CONTROVERSIES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 5 (Antara)  - The Miss World pageant beauty contest now being organized in Indonesia has sparked controversies among mass organizations in the country.          Hard-liners Islamic Defenders Front (FPI),  Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) and the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) have rejected the pageant beauty contest. A group of 11 Islamic social organizations has also rejected the plan to hold the Miss World contest in Bali saying it is against the national morals and culture.          The organizations grouped in the Friendship Institution of  Islamic Mass Organizations (LPOI) also rejected the event in a statement after a meeting of their leaders at the Nahdatul Ulama (NU) office on Wednesday. NU is the largest Islamic mass organization in Indonesia with members over 30 million.          In the meantime, a Hindu youth organization has also taken to streets in Bali in protest against parties rejecting the Miss World pageant contest which it says would bring benefit to the country's economy, particularly the tourism sector.          "We criticize parties who reject the organizing of the Miss World beauty contest in Indonesia. We support the Miss World event," said I Gede Mas Megantara, coordinator the rally on Monday.            The FPI has vowed to disrupt the event, which takes place in a gathering in Bali on September 4 - 6, before the main ceremony on Sept. 28 at the Sentul International Convention Center in Bogor, West Java.          "We should like to affirm that FPI rejects the holding of Miss World in Indonesia," FPI chairman Habib Rizieq Shihab said at a function marking the 15th anniversary of the mass organization.          The contest is against religious norms because it exhibits parts of female body, he said.          The FPI chief warned the government against issuing a permit to the contest's organizing committee.          He also called on the people to reject the plan. "So it is the people who will speak.  If the people act themselves to foil the Miss World, don't blame them, but blame the President and the DPR (House of Representatives) that have the authority but do not use it," he said last month.          The HTI on Wednesday held a gathering in protest against the Miss World contest in the country. In connection with the gathering,  Manager Nasution, a commissioner of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said the organizing of the event disregarded Indonesian sensitivities.          "We have an Indonesian version of human rights. Since our people continue to oppose the holding of Miss World 2013, it is better not to organize the event here," he said at the gathering organised by the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) mass organization.          Firm rejection also came from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).           "After closely observing and studying carefully those who are against and in favor of the Miss World 2013 in Indonesia, MUI hereby states its rejection to it," MUI's head of foreign affairs, Muhyiddin Junaidi, said     One of the considerations to reject the event is Surah Al Ahzab 50 of the Quran that orders women to wear veils.          "There are also various hadiths that state that all parts of the women's body must be covered except hands and face," he said.          He said under Islamic teachings exhibiting parts of female body and body's movement during walking is a sin.          He said the Miss World event is also against the spirit of the country's constitution especially Article 32 that states that the state advances Indonesia's national culture in the midst of world civilizations by assuring people's freedom in maintaining and developing cultural values.          "The Miss World is not in line with the Indonesian culture. The contest also impresses insult to women and national culture through its exhibition of body parts," he said.          LPOI general chairman KH Said Aqil Siroj said any event especially international events should be viewed from benefits and disadvantages it gives to the national interest.          "Miss World contest has more disadvantages than benefit," Said Aqil, who is also general chairman of NU, said.          He said Miss World contest is no more than just an extravaganza throwing money around.          "What is certain is it is an extravagant ceremony with no clear benefit. It is different from Pak Jokowi's ceremony, which promotes Betawi culture," he said referring to Jakarta's Governor Joko Widodo.      General Secretary of LPOI Lutfi A Tamimi said the reason is a hoax that holding the contest in Bali would promote the country.          Bali governor I Made Mangku Pastika said on Monday that the planned Miss World beauty contest on the island would increase the number of tourists coming to the island.          "I am convinced that Miss World would give a positive effect to tourism not only in Bali but also in Indonesia in general. This is an international event. They certainly will follow rules in the region that would be used for the event," he said.          He said the participants are like foreigners who come to the island for a conference. This event will also bring financial benefit to Bali and so why it must be made into a problem, he said.          "What is wrong with Miss World? They will also promote Bali. They will also follow customs and respect cultural traditions in Bali. They will respect ethics, customs and traditions effective in Bali," he said.          Economic observer Dr I Gusti Wayan Murjana Yasa of Bali's Udayana University said the Miss World beauty contest could economically provide benefits to Bali and Indonesia in general.          "It could have effect on increasing income for the Bali people as long as it is supported by various local art activities, the use of locals' services and local products," he said.          Therefore, Hindu Youth Alliance Coordinator I Gede Mas Megantara said his alliance launched a counter rally against those rejecting the beauty pageant contest held for the first time in Indonesia.          He said that the holding of the contest in Bali and in Jakarta will have positive impact on the tourism and cultural development in the country, and would show that Indonesia was a secure country to visit.          Thus, the people are called on to keep themselves away from being provoked with regard to the controversies that are arising over the organizing of the contest.         "The Badung District police are now guarding a number of strategic locations used by outsiders coming to Bali," Bali's Badung Police Resort Public Relations Head Adj. Sr Comr I Made Dina said.          I Made Dina said that police hoped the people would not be provoked by the threat to disrupt the event. The police officer hoped that the security conditions in the tourist resort island would not be disturbed.         "We should remain on alert and maintain security and peace for us all while supporting efforts to develop the province's tourism sector," Dina said.***4*** (T.A014/INE/B003) (T.A014/A/BESSR/Bustanuddin) 05-09-2013 11:47: