128 participate in beauty contest

South Jakarta Mayor H. Pardjoko is calling on participants of the Abang and None (Mr. and Miss) South Jakarta contest to help promote the city administration's campaign encouraging residents to live in apartment buildings.

"You all are expected to participate in the campaign because there is no other choice for Jakartans in the future but to live in apartment buildings due to limited space and escalating land prices," Pardjoko said.

Antara reported yesterday that Pardjoko made the appeal during a briefing to the 1994 beauty contest participants on Tuesday.

WS Kuswanda, chairman of the contest organizing committee, said at least 68 male and 60 female participants will take part in the preliminary selection, which is scheduled to be held in the convention room of the mayoralty administration office complex on Saturday.

The selected finalists will later represent South Jakarta in the Abang and None Jakarta contest.

The beauty contest, which is held in each of the city's five mayoralties, is open for Jakarta residents between 19 and 25 years of age and single.

Categories tested in the contest include history of Jakarta, tourism affairs, English language skills and personal appearance. (has)