MALAYSIA - Four Muslim finalists have been dropped from the Miss Malaysia World 2013 pageant due to a fatwa banning them from joining such events.

Organiser Datuk Anna Lim said the decision was made following a statement by Federal Territories mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh who had opposed the four finalists' participation.

"The competition will go on as usual and we are very excited about presenting the best beauty pageant for our non-Muslim finalists," she told Mingguan Malaysia.

The four dropped are Kathrina Ridzuan, 23, Miera Sheikh, 19, Wafa Johanna De Korte, 19, and Sara Amelia Muhamad Bernard, 20.

Wan Zahidi had said Muslim women could not participate in or organise any beauty pageants as it had been declared haram and a sin.

He said the fatwa had been issued on Feb 8, 1996, under the Adminis-tration of Islamic Laws (FT) Act 1993.

Wafa Johanna, expressed disappointment with the organiser's decision.

According to the former Asia New Face Model Search 2012 champion, they were only asked to wear sports or suitable attire for Muslim girls during the competition held in Bali, Indonesia, instead of swim suits or bikinis.