STORY TO BE TOLD

‘Slave’ girl saved from businessman’s house

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl who was treated as a slave by her family was rescued from a businessman’s house in India, Malaysia Nanban reported.

Childline – an NGO – said the unidentified girl was said to have been asked to work for the businessman’s family in return for a Rs7,000 (RM500) loan to the girl’s mother about five years ago in Nagpor, North India.

It said the woman needed the money to treat another daughter who was suffering from brain tumour. Her alcoholic husband was jobless.

Childline said it received a complaint from the mother after she claimed that she was not allowed to see her daughter.

“The mother was under the impression that her daughter would be given proper care during the summer school break by the businessman’s family.

“She became apprehensive when she was not allowed to see her daughter,” it added.

The NGO found that the girl had suffered from frequent beatings and was given only small amounts of food to eat every two days.

She was sent for counselling in a shelter home after her rescue.

> Makkal Osai reported about speculation surrounding South Indian Tamil actor Vijay’s entry into politics. His father and film producer S.A. Chandrasekar said that his 36-year-old actor son would enter politics when he turns 40.

There had been rumours that the actor might participate in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections in May.

Chandrasekar said Vijay had always been interested in politics and to serve the people. He added that Vijay would be ready to become a politician once movie roles began to dry up when he reaches 40.

“It is definite that Vijay will try his hand in politics in the coming future,” Chandrasekar said.

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Another crown for Deborah
By FIONA HO
fiona@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Model and television host Deborah Henry has been crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2011, the second time she has won a national beauty contest.

“I am honoured and privileged to be representing Malaysia on the world stage,” said Deborah, who is of Indian-Irish descent.

“I’m in it to win. If I never take part, I will never know how far I will go for the rest of my life.”

The 26-year-old currently runs the Save the Kids Education Fund, an education centre for Somali refugee children.

Deborah, who won the Miss World Malaysia title in 2007, was selected by popular vote via the pageant’s official Facebook page combined with the views of a panel of judges.

The panel comprised Miss Universe Malaysia Pageant national director Andrea Fonseka, local actor Hans Isaac and Russian beauty expert Julia Dolmatova.

Fonseka, who was Miss Universe Malaysia in 2004, said they chose a contestant with experience as they did not have the time and resources to groom a greenhorn.

“There are no rules that say a former winner of another beauty pageant can’t join the Miss Universe pageant,” Fonseka said.

She added that Trincy Low, who won the Miss World Malaysia title in 1995, had also won the Miss Universe Malaysia title in 1997.

Other Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 finalists included Gail James, Cassandra Patrick, Jennifer Pedersen, Kelly Jagan, Mourhna Reddy, Patricia Sue-Lin Kundsen, Stefanie Chua and Thanuja Ananthan.

Deborah will represent Malaysia at the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paolo, Brazil, in September.

Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 will also be crowned in September this year as part of the pageant’s new format that aims to provide more training for future contestants.

Fonseka said Latin American countries normally had up to 12 months to train their contenders while Malaysia had to complete the process in just three months.

“We believe future contestants will have a better shot at winning the Miss Universe title now that we have a longer period to train them,” she added.

Miss Universe Malaysia is part of the international Miss Universe franchise owned and managed by the Trump Organisation in a joint venture with NBC Universal.