MISS WORLD PAGEANT BEAUTY CONTEST KICKS OFF IN BALI

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 8 (Antara) - The Miss World 2013 pageant beauty contest kicked off  in  the  Indonesian tourist resort island of Bali on Sunday evening amid controversies and opposition from the country's Islamic mass organizations.          The opening ceremony was highlighted by cultural arts shows such as dances and music performances which accentuated on the Indonesian colors. A total of 16 Miss World contestants performed a fan dance, giving an emphasis on the Indonesian culture.          Clad in a beige-blue color combination dresses with Balinese frangipani flower decoration on their ears, the beautiful contestants appeared agile and flexible in bringing the Indonesian dance, though they only had a brief, seven hour exercise under the direction of choreographer Eko Surpiyanto.           With bare foot on the stage, the beautiful contestants showed talent and beauty, mesmerizing the audience.           Camille Munro, a contestant from Canada, who was interviewed by the MC, Daniel Manata, claimed that she was now able to learn Indonesian dances even if she had been only several days in Indonesia.           "I am very pleased with this. The others are also delighted. This is a combination of Sumatran, Balinese, Javanese and Maluku culture," she said.           The opening of the Miss World 2013 beauty contest was also marked with singer Novita Dewi, a winner of the X-Factor talent-singer contest.

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.