KUALA LUMPUR: After previously calling for the Coldplay concert to be cancelled, a PAS lawmaker says an upcoming beauty pageant scheduled to take place in Malaysia on Dec 12 should also be called off.

       Muhammad Ismi Mat Taib (PN-Parit) said the Miss World Noble Queen pageant should be cancelled, out of respect for the crisis in Palestine and the current northeast monsoon.

       "Should it be allowed to proceed with the support of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry?" he said when debating Budget 2024 at the committee stage on Thursday (Nov 23).

       "I protest against this pageant and to respect Islam’s values as the majority of Malaysians are Muslim, with Islam being the official religion of the federation.

       "Do we want to wait for calamities due to this?" Muhammad Ismi added.

       Datuk Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) interjected saying the Opposition lawmaker should retract his statement.

       "We should celebrate diversity. Celebrating something will not shake one’s faith.

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       "There are many other things that cause a person’s characteristic to be negative," he said.

       "Let’s not play with racial issues any more," Willie added.

       Muhammad Ismi later said beauty pageants featured revealing and sexy outfits.

       "This is not suitable with Islamic values," he said in response to Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) who asked why beauty pageants should not be carried out.

       Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) then said Muhammad Ismi should not watch it, adding that such programmes attracted foreign tourists.

       To this, Muhammad Ismi said there were many other ways to attract tourists.