There is no need for the government to regulate international competitions such as the Miss World beauty pageant.

A pageant that is run as a business is obliged to carry itself well in order to secure sponsorship, so there is no need for additional government intervention.

Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang said this in response to a question raised by Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Baey Yam Keng.

Mr Baey had asked whether more stringent regulations were necessary for beauty pageants, especially when the winner was representing Singapore.

However, Mr Lim added that the government is concerned about Singapore's branding, especially where there is international exposure. He said: "How the world perceives us is not determined by a beauty contest representative. Instead international opinion is shaped over time, as a result of events of significance, by what we do as a country."