Govt cannot ban pageant contest<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA: Defying pressure from Muslim hard-liners and
\nulemas, the government said on Saturday it would not ban
\nIndonesian citizens from joining international pageant contests.<\/p>\n
Minister for Information and Communication Sofyan Djalil said
\nthe positive contribution of such contests was the promotion of
\nthe country in international forums, while the negative side of
\nit was the fact that a part of the nation did not understand the
\npurpose of the event, which he said did not just emphasize
\nphysical beauty.<\/p>\n
Sofyan was responding to protests from the Indonesian Ulema
\nCouncil and the Islam Defenders Front against the Putri Indonesia
\nFoundation for sending Miss Indonesia Artika Sari Dewi to the
\nMiss Universe competition now underway in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
\"If this contest is categorized as pornography, I absolutely
\ndisagree with the event. But, does it really go into that
\ndirection?\" Sofyan said. -- Antara<\/p>\n
;JP;RMS;CD;
\nANPAa..r..
\nScene-Akbar-survey
\nAkbar institute completes survey
\nJP\/4\/4Akbar<\/p>\n
Akbar institute completes survey<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The Akbar Tandjung Institute is set to unveil the
\nresults of a survey on the upcoming local leadership elections --
\nits first project following its establishment early this month.<\/p>\n
Institute chairman Akbar Tandjung told The Jakarta Post
\nrecently that the survey, which had been conducted jointly with
\nthe Polling Centre, was aimed at assessing the public's
\npreparedness for the direct local leadership elections, produce
\nforecasts on the likely results of the elections, and assess
\ntheir likely contribution to the development of democracy in the
\nregions.<\/p>\n
He said the institute's first project reflected the fact that
\nhe and his fellow politicians were serious about the institute,
\nand determined to help improve political education among members
\nof the public and develop democracy in the country.<\/p>\n
Akbar said that at only two weeks old the institute still had
\na limited number of staff, but those staff it had, including
\nhimself, made up a strong team that was capable of realizing the
\ninstitute's vision and mission, and of recruiting social and
\npolitical scientists, analysts and practitioners to carry out its
\nprograms. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-cannot-ban-pageant-contest-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}