Three of the four Muslim finalists of the Miss Malaysia World pageant who were barred from competing in the pageant and deemed to have insulted Islam have issued an apology.
According to media reports, finalists have issued a formal apology to the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi).
Jawi director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali said Jawi's enforcement unit would look into the matter following a Malay daily's report that the girls were taking part in the beauty pageant despite the edict by the National Fatwa Council.
The council had issued a fatwa that was gazetted on Feb 8, 1996, under the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) 1993, which states that participating, organising or contributing to any sort of beauty contest is 'haram' (not permissible) and a sin for Muslims.
According to The Malay Mail Online the Islamic authorities deemed contestants' wish to represent Malaysia in an international beauty contest illegal.
Miss Malaysia World 2013 organiser Datuk Anna Lim expressed her disappointment that the country could not be represented by Malays, (the majority group) in an international beauty pageant, according to Malay Mail report.
The dropped finalists- Wafa Johanna De Korte, Sara Amelia Bernard, Miera Sheikh and Kathrina Binti Ridzuan have expressed respect for Malay culture and said their intention was not to hurt any religion.
According to reports and current state of affairs, Malaysia will never be represented by a Malay/Muslim woman in an international beauty pageant.
Melinder Kaur Bhullar was crowned Miss Malaysia World 2013.
- TOI
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