KUALA LUMPUR: The foreign agent of a Malaysian beauty queen who participated in a Chinese pageant has disappeared, along with her prize money and travel expenses.
Liow Shin Ni, 24, had emerged champion of the Miss Asia Pageant here on Dec 3 last year, and was promised a cash prize of RM10,000 if she went to China and took part at the pageant's final round in Shenzhen on Dec 17.
It is learnt that the organiser of the Malaysian leg of the pageant, Khoo Lay Hong, dealt with a man from China, who acted as the liaison for the organisers of the pageant in China.
Liow, along with another Malaysian contestant, the pageant's runner-up, paid for their own travel expenses to Shenzhen as they were told that they would be fully reimbursed.
However, she never met the liaison throughout her stay in Shenzen, but continued to participate at the pageant there.
Khoo, who tried to contact the liaison on Liow's behalf, said that the man became evasive after the promised money did not materialise.
"He kept giving excuses and claimed that he could not leave the country," Khoo said during a press conference Wednesday (March 21) at Wisma MCA here.
Khoo claimed that the liaison owed the Malaysian pageant organisers and the two Malaysian beauty queens a total of RM30,000.
She added that the Chinese sponsors were also trying to locate the man, who had disappeared after taking their money, originally meant as prize money and travel expenses for the two Malaysians.
"My reputation as an event organiser has been tarnished because of this man. I want the public to be aware of people like him so that they won't be fooled," said Khoo.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, who organised the press conference, called for all sides to be wary and double check contracts before signing anything.
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