Organiser to Yadim: Plus-size pageant fights body-shaming, empowers women

 

The organiser of Miss Plus World Malaysia/Ms Plus Intercontinental Malaysia has pushed back against an attempt by the government-linked Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim) to get the pageant for plus-sized people cancelled.

It noted that Yadim alleged the event set for Jan 2 in Kuala Lumpur next year "did not contribute to moral values" but added that contrary to Yadim's perception, the event was doing a lot of good.

"Our pageant does not showcase or promote bikinis or swimming suits, nor do we focus on any trivial things.

"Our objectives and visions are to celebrate, promote, and elevate plus-sized women's beauty, intelligence, and confidence," it said in a statement.

The organiser added that the participants of the pageant were contributing to moral values through their work in humanitarian services and also creating awareness against body-shaming and bullying.

"It also opens opportunities while empowering women besides doing a lot of charity work and promotions of culture and development of the nation," it said.

As such, the organiser said it hoped the government will support the event.

"We hope all ministers, leaders, and responsible people would help us and support us in our noble cause," it said.

The winner of the pageant will represent Malaysia on the international stage at the Miss Plus World event in the US next year.

"Stopping Malaysian ladies from participating in this international pageant will be a big loss for Malaysia and the world may have a bad perception of the country and the way it treats its women," the organiser said.

It also assured that the event will comply with the standard operating procedure against Covid-19.

It added that it is more of a "virtual gala" as there will be limited sitting and people can watch the live stream on Facebook.

Nasrudin Hassan

Yesterday, Yadim president Nasrudin Hassan, who is also a PAS syura council member, said he will submit a memorandum to the organiser and local authorities to protest the event.

"The organising of such events sends the wrong signal and appears as if the prime minister approves of such programmes when in fact, we know the prime minister is very serious in stopping all activities that do not contribute to the building of character and good values.

"Yadim is confident that the majority, regardless of race and religion, do not condone such programmes that do not benefit the majority and courts Allah's anger," he had said. - Mkini