PDRM Banned Astro's Pageant Contestants From Wearing Swimsuits A Day Before The Finale
Chinese newspapers initially reported that it was the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) that issued the ban on Astro.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 23 Dec 2019, 04:48 PM
After photos of Tattoo Malaysia Expo 2019's semi-nude models went viral last month, a 20-year-running beauty pageant was banned from holding a swimsuit on Saturday, 21 December
According to Sin Chew, the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) allegedly banned the swimsuit segment of the Miss Astro Chinese International Pageant 2019 (MACIP) a day before the event.
Eight beauty pageant finalists were supposed to walk the stage, donned in swimsuits, on Saturday night. However, the KL authorities suddenly issued a ban to Astro, severely disrupting the entire programme schedule.
In the end, the MACIP was forced to change the segment theme to "Let's Party", where the finalists put on denim shorts and see-through chiffon tops over their swimsuits
China Press reported that it is the first time in 20 years that the programme faced this issue.
Astro reportedly went through all the procedures to acquire relevant permits.
The ban has left the programme organising committees confused as they contended the beauty pageant is a non-Muslim competition and it is broadcast in Chinese language.
"The perfect body segment should have been performed in a swimsuit to really see the best body shape of the contestants," a judge of the competition lamented.
"If this continues, the beauty contest will be forced to be held outside the country."
DAP Youth committee member Jenny Choy also voiced her disagreement over the ban, saying that it is a woman's right to participate in a beauty pageant
"I agree with the programme organiser that the swimwear segment has always been an important part of the competition, which is to reflect the perfect posture and wit of the beautiful women," Oriental Daily reported Choy as saying.
"In addition, the beautiful contestants were wearing conservative one-piece swimsuits, and advocate a healthy image - nothing pornographic and overexposed."
While the issue has upset many parties, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng clarified that it was the KL police that issued the ban, not DBKL
Lim said the reports in Chinese newspapers blaming DBKL was inaccurate, reported Malay Mail.
"I was informed by the Sentul police chief, ACP S.Shanmugamoorthy, that he decided to set a condition that there should not be a swimsuit segment in MACIP," said the Kepong MP.
Lim said although Astro had acquired all the necessary permits, the application to the police was only submitted less than five days before the event on 21 December.
"If Astro had complied with the requirements to submit its application for approval from the police 10 days before the event, representatives in Kuala Lumpur like myself will have more time to assist them in handling this issue," he said.
