Miss World Pageant in Indonesia to be bikini-free

Nanyang Business Daily reported that the 2013 Miss World pageant, which will be held in Bogor, Indonesia, in September, is likely to be bikini-free following protest and government support to remove that category.  Certain Islamic fundamentalist groups are saying that the international event was disrespectful of the traditional customs and values of Indonesia.

A Muslim students representative council from East Java said it had sent an official request to Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, for the pageant to be called off.  The council’s counterpart from West Java opined that such pageants were merely excuses to show off women’s physical attributes, which were against religious teachings.