Beauties with a caring heart

By ELAN [e-mail] by AZMAN GHANI 

MOST people undertake charity work now and again. But, for Miss Malaysia Chinese Cosmos (MMCC) 2007 beauty pageant winner Chris Tong Bing Yu, it is a life-long responsibility. 

The 25-year-old lass also inspired at least 25 other former beauty contestants to join her when she decided to form the Cahaya Hati Association, which was officially approved by the Registrar of Societies early last month.  

“I must thank my fellow beauty contestants who gave me their unreserved backing to set up the association and pledged to take up the challenge of making life better for needy and destitute children.” she said at a brief ceremony to launch the association. 

Beautiful people: Chew (right) and Tong (second from right) with some of the other beauties atthe launch.

Tong, who won the MMCC pageant in August last year and represented Malaysia at the International Chinese Cosmos pageant held in Hong Kong in November, at which she won the Miss Cultural subsidiary title, said the members of the association comprised the 2005 and 2006 pageant contestants.  

“There are also a few of my like-minded friends who are keen to be involved in charity work,” she said. 

Tong said they aimed to provide for the educational needs of the poor, as well as shelter for destitute and underprivileged children. 

“We also plan to promote awareness among youth of the need for them to be involved in social service,” she said. 

In fact, Tong said, their calendar for this year was ready and their programme would kick off with a visit to an orphanage.  

“We will also be involved in fund-raising projects in aid of needy children,” she said. 

Women, Family and Community Development parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who officiated at the event, said she was impressed with Tong and her friends. 

She said the founding members of the association had shown a great example to the others.  

“I believe these beautiful ladies are capable of helping needy children achieve a better life and the ministry will help if grants are required for worthy pro-grammes organised by the association,” she added.