KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Pas-led government says the move by the organiser of the Miss World Noble Queen pageant to bring 25 contestants from around the world to promote Malaysian culture is not a good idea.
Therefore, State Islamic Development, Dakwah, Information and Regional Relations committee chairman Mohd Asri Mat Daud said the government through the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry needed to re-evaluate the approval given to the organiser if the government really wants to preserve the country's culture.
"Kuala Lumpur is about to receive 25 delegations of beauty pagent contestants from around the world and the contest will take place at Berjaya Times Square Hotel for a period of eight days from Dec 5 to 12.
"The competition which is said to promote Malaysian tourism through cultural diversity in the country is being organised for the sixth time, with the last in Hong Kong.
"Kelantan Pas is confident that the competition will damage the country's unique culture which is its own class in the eyes of the world.
"In addition, this competition that displays women's bodies in front of the public is clearly against the Islamic Syariah law and not compatible with Malaysia which places Islam as the Federal religion," he said in a statement.
Asri said there has been a lot of cultural damage in the country due to the uncontrolled absorption of foreign culture.
"Over time, Malaysia will lose its identity and unique culture," he said.
Malaysia is all set to host the Miss World Noble Queen pageant in December after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
The Miss World Noble Queen pageant was last held in 2019 in Hong Kong, and won by Miss France Sonia Mansur.
The pageant, with the theme 'Environmental Protection', aims to celebrate inner and outer beauty, talent, intelligence, and promote environmental awareness and charitable causes.
The event will bring together 25 Miss World Noble Queen delegates from around the world vying for the prestigious crown.
Participating countries and territories include Greece, Moldova, Germany, Czech Republic, Georgia, Slovakia, Estonia, Belarus, Switzerland, France, Romania Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Japan, India, China, and host Malaysia.
Malaysia had last hosted the international pageant in 2015 and 2016, after which the pageant was hosted abroad, first in Myanmar (2017), then in Cambodia (2018) and in Hong Kong (2019).