Muslims banned from beauty pageants despite no bikini rule, says Jamil Khir
Malaysia will still ban Muslim women from competing in beauty pageants despite a change in the format of the Miss Malaysia World 2013 pageant, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said today.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who is in charge of religious affairs said the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) had already clarified the Muslim edict (fatwa) was not about the dress code for participants.
"This is not about the rule of no bikinis. The fatwa clearly states that Muslim women cannot join beauty pageants,” Jamil Khir told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Four Muslim women who had made it to the final round of the Miss Malaysia World 2013 were dropped by the organiser following an outcry from Muslim groups.
The Star reported that Jawi director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali has already informed Miss Malaysia World organiser Datuk Anna Lim that the Muslim girls will not be allowed to take part in beauty pageants following a review of the fatwa ruling.
Lim said Che Mat called her to explain how fatwa law was being enforced and already implemented, and that there were no changes to be made.
"The four girls are disappointed, while the other contestants are happy and beaming and have already started off their Miss Malaysia World programme," she was quoted as saying by The Star online news portal.
"It's sad to know that the girls cannot participate. They are beautiful and have a lot of the right attributes," said Lim.
"I hope that they look into it again if there's a possibility of anything that can be done," she added.
But Lim said the disqualified finalists have been invited to the Miss Malaysia World programme as guests.
Sara Amelia Bernard, one of the disqualified finalists, said she was prepared for the decision.
"I'm disappointed of course. But the bright side is that I get to come and give moral support to my friends. One of them may be the new Miss Malaysia World," Sara told The Star.
She also said she had to disable her Facebook account because of the large number of negative comments.
"The note I wrote on Facebook has received more than 3,000 shares. I didn't expect it to go viral," she said.
