JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Miss World has axed the famed bikinis from this year’s pageant in Indonesia, replacing the skimpy swimsuits with conservative beach sarongs amid mounting protests from hard-line Muslim groups, organisers said yesterday.

All of the more than 130 contestants will be required to wear Bali’s traditional long sarongs instead of the sexy bikinis that are historically part of the competition, said Adjie S Soeratmadjie of the RCTI, the official broadcaster and local organiser.

Parts of the pageant will take place on the resort island of Bali and the final round will be held September 28 near the capital, Jakarta.

Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country.

“There will no bikini in this year’s Miss World pageant to respect our traditional customs and values,” Soeratmadjie said, adding that the London-based Miss World Organisation is on board with the decision.

“This is a sensitive issue in Indonesia. We have discussed it since last year and they have agreed,” he said.

The chairwoman of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, confirmed that none of the 137 contestants would wear a bikini.

“Indonesia is designing for us a very beautiful one-piece beachwear, and I’m very happy with them,” she told The Associated Press by phone from London.