2 Malaysian Beauty take part in the 1st Edition of Miss Tourism Qeeen International 2013 Asia Final

Miss Tourism Queen International [MTQI]2013 Regional Final (Asia), some called it Miss Tourism Queen Asia 2013 was held from 8th to 18th May in Xitang, China - Opened to
Asian countries of MTQI only. Another prestigious event organized by ERM.
This event is open to all Asian Countries only and piriority to current MTQI license holders. To celebrate our 10 years anniversary of Miss Tourism Queen China.

The 1st Miss Tourism China was held in this ancient city of Xitang in 2004, after 10th successful years Miss Tourism Queen China been organized in China and 5 times in Xitang since 2004 to 2008, Xitang town wish to host a bigger event and the 1st Edition of Miss Tourism Queen Asia took place there. There are 37 Asian countries and Tourism Region  participate in this year's 10th anniversary festivities to promote tourism, culture and friendship amongst our Asian neighbours.

2 Malaysian Beauty take part in this contest, Miss Tourism Queen Asia - Malaysia was represented by Sharmisttha Yoogan, from Kuala Lumpur and Miss Tourism Queen Asia - Borneo (as Special Tourism Region) was represented by Grace Chang Siew Ling from Kota Kinabalu.

On 18th May, with the 10,000 strong supporting crow and appearances of few famous Asian Singers like Nicolas Tse and Khalil Fong from Hong Kong, Tai Pei-Nee from Malaysia, Kim Jeong Hoon from Korea, Phil Chang, Pan Yueh Yun and Peng Jiahui from Taiwan, the Winner for the 1st Edition of Miss Tourism Queen Asia 2013 was Miss Zhejiang, China - Bai Xueying.

There are the result for the Miss Tourism Queen Asia 2013 :-
Winner                         Bai Xueying                            Miss Zhejiang China
1^st Runner-up              Assemgul Ibrayeva                 Miss Tajikistan
2^nd Runner-up              Pongphan Kaewmano          Miss Chiangmai
3^rd Runner-up              Cristine Racel                         Miss Cebu
4^th Runner-up              Michimaa Gankhuyag           Miss Mongolia

TOP 10 (Not in order of Merit)

1. Pongphan Kaewmano             Miss Chiangmai
2. Cristine Racel                          Miss Cebu
3. Tomomi Takano                      Miss Japan
4. Rouba Diego                           Miss Lebanon
5. Michimaa Gankhuyag             Miss Mongolia
6. Zuo Sijia                                  Miss Shanxi China
7. Assemgul Ibrayeva                 Miss Tajikistan
8. Yana Shilova                           Miss Tatarstan
9. Nadezhda Andreeva               Miss Turkmenistan
10. Bai Xueying                            Miss Zhejiang China

Subsidiary Awards

1. Miss Bikini                               - Anna Kuznetsova, Miss Siberia
2. Best in National Costume       - Melani Rajudin, Miss Sri Lanka
3. Miss Photogenic                      - Kunrapatsorn Lekpet, Miss Thailand
4. Miss Friendship                       - Rocher Ang, Miss Singapore
5. Miss Talent                              - Aigerim Otarbayeva, Miss Kazakhstan
6. Miss Press Princess                 - Samriddhi Rai, Miss Nepal
7. Miss Elegant                           - Tiffany Wong, Miss Macau
8. Miss Charm                             - Tomomi Takano, Miss Japan
9. Best Smile                               - Li Fujun, Sichuan China

Moms win titles at Mrs Malaysia Planet pageant

The newly-crowned Mrs Malaysia Planet 2013 Gin Lim (right) and Mrs Elite Malaysia International 2013 Tian Lee Na.

Mothers took centre stage winning titles at the Mrs Malaysia pageant grand finals at the Royal Ballroom of Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel in Seri Kembangan, Selangor on May 18, 2013.

A 38-year-old mother from Penang, Gin Lim was crowned as Mrs Malaysia Planet 2013 while a 44-year-old mother from Johor Bahru, Tian Lee Na was Mrs Elite Malaysia International 2013.

Gin Lim will now represent Malaysia at the Mrs Planet 2013 pageant world finals in Bulgaria in June while Tian Lee Na will be Malaysia’s representative in August when she competes in the Mrs South East Asia 2013 pageant finals in Singapore.

Gin Lim, a mother of two children, stands 170cm tall at 45kg said after her triumph, “I was surprised when they announced that I had won. I feel happy.

“Now I’m looking forward to the world finals and a trip to Bulgaria in Europe more than ever.”

She received RM35,000 worth of prizes which include RM3,000 cash, sash, crown, trophy and sponsorship prizes.

“I entered the pageant on my own mind and I am grateful to have the support from my husband, family members and friends.

“It was a wonderful sharing experience with so many beautiful women and mothers and I enjoyed knowing everyone of them in the pageant,” said Gin Lim who is a successful businesswoman herself with business interests in the UK and Penang.

Thirty-eight-year old Gin Lim is crowned Mrs Malaysia Planet 2013.

Forty-four-year-old Tian Lee Na is crowned Mrs Elite Malaysia International 2013.

Top 5 winners:- Mrs Malaysia Planet 2013 Gin Lim (centre) is flanked by first runner-up Dr May Heong (2nd from left), second runner-up Sumi Teh (2nd from right), third runner-up Michelle Peu (1st from left) and fourth runner-up Jess Chong (1st from right).

Top 5 winners:- Mrs Elite Malaysia International 2013 Tian Lee Na (center) is flanked by first runner-up Lim Woan Rou (2nd from right), second runner-up Jena Chuan (2nd from left), third runner-up Angie Tan (1st from left) and fourth runner-up Ang Kui Chin (1st from right).

Gin Lim gives a bright smile as she parades in a red evening gown.

Tian Lee Na parades in evening gown.

Mrs Elite Malaysia International 2013 second runner-up Jena Chuan at 60 parades in evening gown.

Mrs Malaysia 2013 organiser Lim Siew Cheng (3rd from right) in a queenly pose with (L-R) Yohko Ng, Yvonne Kon, Irene Wong, Datin Maylene Yong, Bo Bo Lee, Monica and Winnie Loo.

At 44-years-old and with a child, Tian Lee Na, also a businesswoman, said she joined the pageant at her age with the blessing of her supportive husband.

“I feel very excited to have won the title and crown. I feel like I’m younger again,” said Tian who was a model during her teen years in the 90s.

“I enjoyed myself meeting all the wonderful women and made many friends.

“I hope more women would come out to participate in such pageants because they really help boost their self-confidence and life satisfaction.”

Tian who also clinched the Mrs Gracious subsidiary title received prizes worth RM35,000 in total, including RM3,000 cash, sash, crown, trophy and sponsorship prizes.

Apart from the main titles, 12 other mothers were proclaimed runner-ups and subsidiary title winners.

The 18 finalists first paraded first in bridal gown, then office wear and finally in evening gown before they were whittled down to five from each of Group A for Mrs Malaysia Planet (Age 27-40) and Group B for Mrs Elite Malaysia International (Age 41-60) – for the final question-and-answer round.

The oldest participant in the competition was 60-year-old Jena Chuan who won the second runner-up in Mrs Elite Malaysia International and clinched three subsidiary titles of Mrs Most Courageous, Mrs Most Popular and Mrs Best Evening Gown.

The winners were selected by a panel of international judges from China, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

The pageant which pays tribute to women for their beauty, strength, intelligence and community involvement was coincident with Mother’s Day on May 11, just a week ago.

The License Holder of Mrs. Malaysia Planet is owned by ERM Marketing Sdn. Bhd.

GRAND FINALS :

MRS MALAYSIA PLANET 2013

Champion GIN LIM, 381st Runner-Up DR. MAY HEONG CHEE MEI, 372nd Runner-Up SUMI TEH, 323rd Runner-Up PEU GEK CHIAW, 344th Runner-Up JESSICA CHONG MEI LENG, 36

SUBSIDIARY AWARDS

Mrs. Most Talented SUMI TEH, 32Mrs. Fitness DR. MAY HEONG CHEE MEI, 37Mrs. Most Beautiful Skin PEU GEK CHIAW, 34Mrs. Most Confident SABRINA LIM, 34Mrs. Congeniality IRENE LIM MOOI HOON, 31Mrs. Photogenic JESSICA CHONG MEI LENG, 36Mrs. Best Evening Gown JESSICA CHONG MEI LENG, 36 & GAN CHWEE YNG, 36

MRS ELITE MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL 2013

Champion TIAN LEE NA, 441st Runner-Up LIM WOAN ROU, 422nd Runner-Up JENA CHUAN, 603rd Runner-Up ANGIE TAN LAY CHOO, 474th Runner-Up ANG KUI CHIN, 40
SUBSIDIARY AWARDS

Mrs. Most Talented LIM WOAN ROU, 42Mrs. Most Courageous JENA CHUAN, 60Mrs. Perfect Figure ANGIE TAN LAY CHOO, 47Mrs. Gracious TIAN LEE NA, 44Mrs. Charming ANG KUI CHIN, 40Mrs. Photogenic LIM WOAN ROU, 42Mrs. Most Popular JENA CHUAN, 60Mrs. Best Evening Gown JENA CHUAN, 60 & MAY KAN POH CHAN, 46

Friday, 13th June 1997 - Is this the date had change Malaysia Pageant Industry? - Part 2

 

Friday the 13th Beauties

Friday, June 13, will forever remain bitter-sweet day in the history of the Miss Malaysia Petite Pageant. A competition which pits the beauty, intelligence, grace and style of "small" ladies (contestants must be below 5'5" or 165cm), the pageant held at Holiday Villa Subang did, in many ways live up to the promise of a "grand and glamorous event".

As far as beauty pageants go, praise must go to Miss Malaysia Petite organizers, Aspendoz Event Management Sdn. Bhd., for staging a professional show. However, their decision to retain Raymond Goh as their emcee, after his cringing effort last year, remains a mystery.

Really, he was irrelevant to the proceedings, what with him babbling about how "......you can almost feel the still air on stage." Huh? Thankfully, his failed jokes and blunders didn't detract from the fact that the 13 girls vying for the title, did put tremendous effort into the show.

Opening Round

The three preliminary rounds -sports wear, swimwear and evening wear - were over in a flash. The girls worked hard on their choreography and presented themselves well. The concept of the evening wear section was particularly novel. Each contestant comes on stage with a mask to the tune of The Phantom of the Opera, which had a great effect. The music perfectly complemented the need for elegance and most of the girls delivered. In fact, the soundtrack for the night was pretty cool, although the melancholic Theme from the Godfather somehow wasn't the appropriate tune to use when announcing the winners.

The five finalists for the night were Staphanie Chin, Catherine Cheah, Noni Mohamad, Amy Lui and Fahyu Hanim. And they faced the dreaded interview round next. this round should be the yardstick in any beauty contest. No country wants a dumb, albeit beautiful women, to represent it at the international competition.

Contestant No. 1 Staphanie scored highest during the interview. To the question "What do you think is the biggest problem in Malaysia today?", she replied confidently, "The lack of love, violence and child abuse. I feel pity for those infants with no sins. Which is why everybody has to try and have a loving heart." A well thought of response and it come as a big surprise, when the result were announced and she didn't feature in the top three.

Twenty-year-old Amy Lui emerged the eventual champion. She also impressed during the interview with her natural confidence and good command of English. Her response to the question of "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" demonstrated determination, ambition and drive when she replied, "Probably as a manageress of a top company as well as a good wife and mother." She won RM6,000.00 in cash plus a host of assorted prizes and the chance to represent Malaysia at the Miss Petite International Final in Houston, Texas, USA in July. However, her sweet victory was marred by a sensational turn of events when the pageant was over.

Crowning Moment

On a night which should have been most memorable for the first-time beauty pageant contestant, her victory was over shadow by the arrest of the first and second runners-up, Fahyu Hanim, 18, and Noni Mohamad, 19, and another contestant, 23 years old Sharina Shaari, by the Selangor Religious Department. Coincidentally, June 13 also happens to be the Birthday of Fahyu.

The Immediate reasons given were that the girls has broken the Syariah Law and on the next day, the girl was charged under Section 31 of the Syariah Crimes Enactment Selangor 1995 (EJS) which stipulates that Muslim women are not allowed to take part in a beauty contest, and under Section 2 of the same Enactment for being indecently dressed. In the end, the girls were allowed bail of RM2,500.00 and were scheduled to be tried in the Syariah Court on July 1 for the first offence and July 2 for the second. Should they be found guilty, the girls could face a maximum fine of RM4,000.00 or three years' jail or both.

Admittedly, this twist to the tale cames rather unexpectedly as Sean Chia, the event director, said, "Of course, we didn't anticipate this. After all, we had many Miss Malaysia who are Malays. And we did not receive any directives or guidelines from the Religious Department on this issue."

The arrests have send beauty pageant organizers scrambling to find quick solution, if there actually is one. Apparently, there had been no other such incidents in other States' finals.

On the same weekend, two other pageants were going on in Kuala Lumpur with Malay contestants taking part and yet they didn't come under fire from the KL Religious Department. Also, many past Muslim beauty queen are now celebrities in their own right and serve to inspire younger girls to aim for bigger and better things.

So, Sean aims to understand the problem by uniting all pageant organizers to find out from the Religions Department just what the guidelines for beauty pageant are. Until they get some concrete answers to question such as "Are Muslim women allowed to joint pageants?", "Is the Syariah Law same in every State?" and "What about fashion shows, dances, etc?", Sean said that Aspendoz will still hold the titles for Fahyu and Noni. "After all, they haven't broken any criminal laws."

 

Article by Eugene Ng, Day & Night Magazine dated July 6, 1997

 

Swimear Shooting during Press Conference

 

 

Friday, 13th June 1997 - Is this the date had change Malaysia Pageant Industry? - Part 1

Miss Malaysia Petite 1997 Grand Final

Friday the 13th occurs when the thirteenth day of a month falls on Friday, which superstition holds to be a day of bad luck. Before 13th June 1997 (which is also Friday), I did not believe it was a unlucky day. 13th June 1997 is the Grand Final Night for Miss Malaysia Petite 1997 Beauty Pageant, it is also the day had change the Beauty Pageant Industry in Malaysia.

Attached are some information about the contest :-

Contest Name : Miss Malaysia Petite 1997 Beauty Pageant - Grand Final Gala Dinner

Date               : 13th June 1997

Venue            : Classic Ballroom, Holiday Vila Subang, Selangor, Malaysia

Participants     : 13 contestnat from Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Johor and Kuala Lumpur take part. Miss Malaysia Petite is a contest for girls below 165cm.

                        There are 3 malay (Muslim) girls participated in this contest, Noni Mohammad, Fahyu Hanim and Shalina Shaari.

Here are some write up about th contest by the local news paper before the contest :-

The Grand Final Event go on smoothly until the announcement of the result, just after the crowning of the Winners, the Religion officials go straight to the stage to arrest the 3 muslim girls. 2 of the muslim girls Noni & Fahyu was on the stage as both of them won 1st & 2nd runner-up, both of them has been arrest infront of the Media, Press & audiances. the 3rd muslim girl Salina has been arrest in the backstage. Before this, Malaysia since independent in 1957, has been organized many Beauty Pageants and muslim girls has been participated and some have win the title like Erra Fazira, Yasmin Yusof. They even have pageant only involved Malay only like Ratu Kebaya contest & etc., this is 1st time happen in Malaysia Pageant History not because of they are muslim, but Beauty Queen won and arrest on Stage.

The joke is, the Religion official was there before the show started, they buy tickets, enjoyed the Gala dinner show and then arrest the 3 girls after the event. 3 of the girls have to lock up  in the Subang Jaya Police over night and face the charges in syariah court 2nd day morning. This incident have become a big issue for the whole nation.

Here are some write up by the press after this incident happen.

The Begining of The End for Malay girls participating in Beauty Pageant........to be continue......

Why since 1997 there is no Malay girls win Miss Malaysia titles!? - Part 3

Modern, and Moderate, Islam

By Zainah Anwar, in AsiaWeek,
16 September, 1997

(AsiaWeek): PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR MOHAMAD'S call for reform of Malaysia's Islamic laws and the administration of Islam in the country reflects a growing public concern. Intolerant and repressive teachings and practices are slowly creeping into society. Nowhere is this more true than in matters relating to women's rights and fundamental liberties. These pose a challenge to the progressive vision of Islam...the federal government supports, and. . .Dr. Mahathir himself relentlessly champions.

Malaysia, alone in the Muslim world, grants each state control over religious matters. This has led to contradictions and differences in the interpretation and enforcement of Islamic laws, in particular family laws. While in Selangor state a man has to fulfill four conditions before he can practice polygamy, in Trengganu he does not have to meet such requirements. A divorced man ordered to pay child support by the shariah court of Kuala Lumpur can avoid doing so by moving a few miles across the border to Petaling Jaya. The decision of a shariah court in one state is not enforceable in another. Such differences have enabled errant men to circumvent the law to their own advantage. Islamic laws and the administration of the shariah system must be reformed to ensure...justice prevails. Reform will not be quick. But it is time to begin the process.
It was the arrest -- on stage and in full view of press photographers -- of three Muslim girls participating in the Miss Malaysia Petite Contest in June that triggered the federal government's current effort at comprehensive reform. The public outcry, echoed in the national press, and the calls for a more moderate application of Islamic laws are welcome reactions to the rising conservatism. Many citizens are no longer willing to obey rulings and pronouncements made in the name of Islam if they are, in effect, unjust. Obscurantism has little resonance among the educated, modern middle class of Malaysia.

Calling for reform is not an easy task. The prime minister has been criticized at Friday sermons for doing so. When Dr. Mahathir speaks on the subject, he receives little back-up from the political figures who usually echo his thoughts and exhortations faster than the speed of sound. Women's groups, which criticize the shariah system and offer alternative interpretations of the Koran on issues of equality and justice, are often condemned by those who believe...only the ulama (Muslim theologians) have the right to speak about religious matters.
Therein lies the contradiction and challenges of a modern democratic nation like Malaysia, where religion is part of public life. There is a difference between what is revealed (and therefore divine and infallible) and what is human interpretation (and therefore fallible and changeable). The opinion of the state religious authorities is merely a human effort to interpret the limitless message of the Koran. It is therefore open to public debate and change.

A fatwa (religious edict) is supposed to be only an advisory opinion. It is not binding. ...in Malaysia a fatwa issued at the state level by the religious authorities has the automatic force of law, even though it does not go through the legislative process. Over the past two years, most states have adopted shariah laws that make it a crime for any person to defy or dispute any fatwa currently in force. Very few Malaysians know . . .such laws have been passed. And even fewer knew of the fatwa that bans Muslim women from participating in beauty pageants. Thus their shock after the arrests.

Using the fatwa in this way violates the fundamental liberties of Malaysians, as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, and has no basis or historical precedent in Islam. . . .very few Muslims have the courage to question, challenge or even discuss Islam in public. They have been socialized to accept that the religious authorities know best. Many fear. . .if they were to express an opinion that differs from the establishment, they would be accused of being anti-Islam, or of having deviated from their faith. This is the common experience of individuals and groups pushing for reform in many parts of the Muslim world. Malaysia is no exception.

In a democratic society. . .Islam cannot be the exclusive preserve of the ulama. How can it be when Islamic laws affect our very way of life? The decision-making process must be participatory and must reflect the diverse and changing nature of Malaysian society. Those practices and legal provisions that give the ulama the sole power to decide on matters of religion and criminalize those with differing opinions must be abrogated. The Constitution must be amended to ensure uniformity of laws and one standard of justice for all. If the ulama continue to remain oblivious to the palpable change that pervades a quickly modernizing, multi-ethnic Malaysia, they run the risk of making themselves increasingly irrelevant to the lives of their people.

Why since 1997 there is no Malay girls win Miss Malaysia title!? - Part 2

Malaysia debates Islam after beauty contest row

Dated :31th August 1997 - The Sunday Times

[31th August 1997]KUALA LAMPUR Three Muslem women, who were rounded up by Islamic authorities in Malaysia's Selangor state for parading in bathing suits in a beauty contest, await their fate outside an Islamic court in Kuala Lampur. (L-R) Noni Mohammad 19, Fahyu Hanim Ahmad 18, and Shalina Shaari 23 , if convicted are liable for a maximum fine of 1000 ringgit ($200) or six months jail or both. Selangor state said it was cracking down on Muslem women and men " who go beyond the limit" in their clothing in public.
The arrest in Malaysia of three Muslem beauty contestants who paraded in swimsuits has touched a sensitive nerve in a country whose official religion is Islam but whose laws are secular.
The move occurred against the backdrop of a controversial government ruling that a course on Islamic civilisation would be made mandatory in universities.
The fact the incidents took place when Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was running the country while Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was on leave, added fuel to the fire.
Non-Muslems have long been suspicious of Anwar, who launched his career as a firebrand Islamic youth leader and who chaired the Islamic affairs meeting which issued the ruling on the university course.
"Miss Malaysia Petite" contest raided
The beauty competition row erupted when religious officials raided the finals of the Miss Malaysia Petite contest in central Selangor state in June, and arrested the trio in front of television cameras and a gasping audience.
Part-time models Fahyu Hanim Ahmad, 18, Noni Mohamed, 19, and Shalina Shaari, 23, were fined 400 ringgit ($143) each for breaking a state law.
The law against "indecent" dressing in public was passed by the Selangor state assembly in 1995 but was not widely known. It had not been acted upon until the June arrests in the ballroom of a leading hotel.
The move was hailed by religious authorities as a triumph over what they see as growing moral decay among Muslem youths in Malaysia, where nearly 60 percent of the 20 million population is Muslem.
Recently, religious authorities in Malaysia's Borneo state of Sarawak ruled that Muslem men may not take part in body building contests, because of body exposure.
By then, Muslems themselves were already split over the beauty contest ruling.
"Muslems should support the action as a way to guard the purity of Islam and a step to stop social ills. Why should we sympathise with those who break the law?" university student Haziyah Hussain was quoted as saying in Harakah, the newspaper of the opposition Islamic party PAS.
Others, including the prime minister's outspoken daughter, were livid.
"What worries me most of all is, what next? What constitutes indecency in Muslim women? Not covering our heads? Wearing skirts? Short sleeves?...
"Excuse me, but did the Taliban infiltrate our country?," Marina Mahathir wrote in a July 9 column in The Star newspaper, referring to Afghanistan's purist Islamic movement.
Government leaders red faced
Certain Malaysian government leaders were embarrassed at what they saw as a setback to years of hard work convincing people at home and abroad that Islam is a moderate religion.
"That is not the Islamic way," the prime minister said of the beauty contest raid. "It does not strengthen the people's belief. We can take other methods of action which are more effective."
Mahathir then drew fire, with some Muslem leaders calling him an apostate for his remarks. Later, a government official spoke of a misunderstanding, saying the prime minister had not been accused of being un-Islamic.
Meanwhile, the controversy over the university course bubbled for a couple of weeks until the cabinet ruled the subject would cover both Islamic and Asian civilisations.
Mahathir promoting Muslem prosperity
Mahathir, who has promoted a moderate face of Islam since taking office 16 years ago, frequently says Muslems should focus on building up their wealth and power to break the cycle of oppressive poverty found in many Islamic nations.
He has engineered the rise of a breed of Malay Muslem entrepreneurs through large-scale privatisation of former government assets, to show that given the chance, the country's Muslems can succeed. But Malaysia's rapid economic growth, which created a thriving middle class of Muslem Malays, has brought with it a host of social ills.
Newspapers are filled with stories of narcotics raids on youth hangouts, dumping of illegitimate babies in public toilets, child-custody battles, incest and rape. What worries government leaders is that much of it seems to be happening in the Muslem Malay community.
Mahathir said in July that state chief ministers "would like to ensure that the focus (of action) is on people who rape their children, rape other people, beat their wives and take drugs rather than focusing on people's dresses."

Why since 1997 there is no Malay girls win Miss Malaysia Title? - Part 1

In Summer 2009, I went to Xianning, Hubei Province, China to Judge for Miss Friendship International 2009 which was participated by 70 countries around the world. Miss Malaysia was represented by a Penang girl call Ooi See Nee and she won subtitle of Miss Talent in the contest. One of the International Judges come and ask me a question that I really feel difficult to answer. He ask "I have been judging for International pageant for last few years, Why I only see Chinese or Indian represent as Miss Malaysia, where is the Malay girls? Are they not good enough to win?".

Judges having picture with top 5 finalists in Miss International 2009 Final

 

 

Judging in Xianning, Hubei During the Miss Friendship International world Final 2009

 

Now Let me answer the question! Why there is no Malay girls win Miss Malaysia Title since 1997?

This is because of the inccident happen during 1997 in Malaysia Pageant Industry.

attached is the New York Times News publish on 18 August 1997 by Michael Richardson

In Malaysia, Presure Builds Over Enforcement of Islamic Laws

 

also if you search for Wikipedia for Miss Malaysia, you will find under Fatwa Ruling :-

FATWA RULING

In Malaysia, female Muslims were denied participation in beauty pageants following the issue of a fatwa in 1995 by the Mufti of Selangor. The issue came to a nasty twist in July-September 1997 when three Malay participants joined the Miss Malaysian petite contest, only to be arrested by the authorities. In the ensuing public outcry and debate that followed, the effectiveness of the fatwa was shown given the influence of the Selangor's Mufti over the nation's sharia law.The fatwa resonated with the ideology that Muslim women should cover up private parts of their body, or Aurat of which the beauty pageants' practices ran contrary to–even though such religious enactments are not restricted to male pageants.
Nevertheless, a public outcry ensued, as members of the public questioned the way the religious authorities handled the matter as well as the abrupt ruling which came about–Muslim women in the past had participated in beauty pageants without much protest amongst the religious authorities.This invoked the concerns of Mahathir's who had raised objections to the way the religious authorities had implemented and enforced the law–and questions including distinctions on religious laws and personal freedom were raised. Nevertheless, the fatwa ruling has since been very effective; Muslim women have since then been deterred from joining any beauty pageants for fear of arrest by the religious authorities by the fatwa enactment. Malaysian beauty pageants, in compliance with the law, similarly denied Muslim individuals from participating.
That's why there is no Malay Miss Malaysia winners for last 12 years and future!
To be more correct, there won't be even a Malay contestants in Pageant.

The Beautiful Noni Mohamad from Penang State during the Miss Malaysia Petite Grand Final Contest in 1997

she dream of becoming Miss Universe or at least competing in Miss Universe contest. but change of islamic fatwa in Malaysia made her unable to pursue her dream.

The top 3 winners for Miss Malaysia Petite 1997: Winner - Amy Lui (Centre) being flanked by 1st Runner-up Fahyu (left) and 2nd Runner-up Noni (Right), both Muslim which later been led away by religion officers from JAIS.