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rganizers in Bintan Island in Riau Islands province plan to hold a bikini beach party at the Nirwana Garden Resort located in the Lagoi International Tourism Zone, which will be aired by Fashion TV, on May 14.

Large signboards have been erected on a number of streets on neighboring Batam Island in the past month promoting the Bikini Beach Party.

However, organizers were forced to temporarily cover the signboards due to mounting protests, but reiterated they would go ahead with the event according to schedule.

Muslim organizations such as the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Indonesian Mosque Youth Communication Forum (BKPRMI), Malay Cultural Council (LAM) and Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) have lambasted the planned event.

They claimed the event was immoral and violated eastern cultures as well as the antipornography law.

The head of the Riau Islands branch of the MUI, Tengku Azhari Abbas, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday the MUI was shocked to learn the event would be held on Bintan, despite the fact that the ethnic Malays in Bintan and the Riau Islands are mainly Muslim.

He claimed the event would have a negative impact on the public, so the MUI was opposed to it.

“Although we have expressed our objection, the organizers remain firm about staging the event. We have sent a letter of objection to the Riau Islands governor and asked the police to ban the event. We urge the government to listen to our objections and aspirations,” Azhari said.

He said the event violated the controversial 2008 Anti-pornography Law because organizers advertised the event, which will showcase the bodies of scantily clad women.

“The government must be objective in judging whether the event is beneficial or detrimental. We want tourism to develop, but we must uphold local values and cultures,” Azhari said.

The head of the local FPI branch, Achyar Nasution, agreed. He said his group had issued an ultimatum to organizers to call off the event or face an FPI raid.

Nirwana Garden Resort administrative director Anton told the Post that the event would take place as scheduled as organizers had obtained a permit from the National Police in Jakarta.

“Actually, there is a misunderstanding as there is no objection. The dress code for the beach party is white bikinis. It’s natural to wear a bikini on the beach, but not to the market. The event will be held as scheduled,” Anton said.

He added that Fashion TV Singapore was organizing the event and that Nirwana Garden Resort would provide the venue. Organizers said 1,000 people are expected at the event, with 800 confirmed to attend.

“Security for the event will be normal and reinforcements are not required because the area is safe for such an event,” Anton said.

He said Fashion TV would tape and air the event in its line of programming.

Bintan Tourism Agency head Akib Rahman said his agency supported the event as the venue was far from residential areas. He added that such an event would attract more visitors to Bintan.

“There won’t be any problems as long as they are not naked. The venue is also far from residential areas. I think calling for a ban is inappropriate,” Akib said.