Melaka CM is making up for the ugly side to a beauty pageant

MELAKA: Miss Great Britain’s alleged humiliation during a beauty pageant here last month has gotten the attention of the Chief Minister.

Datuk Seri Idris Haron is inviting Saffron Hart to be crowned Tourism Ambassador for Melaka to Europe.

Hart’s ordeal over the alleged unprofessional hosting of Miss Tourism World 2018 pageant was highlighted by Britain’s Daily Mail on Feb 10.

She claimed that she was selected as one of five contestants to vie for the top prize at the Jan 27 finals.

Silver lining: Hart has been invited by Idris to be crowned Tourism Ambassador for Melaka to Europe. 

The Daily Mail reported that Hart and three other finalists were then disqualified due to a technical hitch that led to the finals being scrapped and restarted.

Hitting out at the bungled hosting of the pageant, Idris said Melaka was ready to award the title to the 27-year-old Hart.

“The organiser hosted the event privately, so it has nothing to do with the state government.

“At the end of the day, they (organiser) smeared the reputation of Melaka and even the country with their dodgy arrangement,” he said at Seri Negeri here.

Idris said he felt sorry for Hart who spent her own money to come all the way to Melaka to take part in the contest. “How could the organiser do this to her?

“Anyone would end up being disappointed when their sash is revoked and awarded to another person in such a sloppy arrangement,” he said.

Idris said the state government has been working hard to lure more than 17 million tourist arrivals to Melaka this year.

“We don’t need such unfavourable media coverage when we are striving to make Melaka a haven for tourism and investment,” he said.

Idris said the state hoped to crown Hart with the title although Melaka didn’t encourage such pageants to be held here.

Bayou Lagoon Park Resort managing director Datuk Marco Seow said he would sponsor the accommodation for Hart and her accompanying family members and friends.

“They can stay at my resort for as long as they wish,” he said.

Seow said news about Hart’s plight could turn off European tourists from coming to Melaka.