Lucky Draw Prize Issue: ‘It’s okay, ma’am, just take the RXZ’ – Akmal Saleh

MELAKA: The organisers of the Youth Carnival have decided to let a 54-year-old woman keep the Yamaha RXZ motorcycle she won as the grand prize on Sunday, despite her not meeting the eligibility requirements for participation.

A representative of the organiser, Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, said the organisers initially received complaints before a review found that a technical error had indeed occurred, allowing the woman to pass the registration process even though the age limit was set between 18 and 50 years old.

Following that, they contacted the woman to provide an explanation, and after discussion, the woman agreed to return the prize, albeit reluctantly, while the organiser promised to provide compensation in cash.

“So, we thought it was settled. But it turns out, the next morning when I woke up, it had gone viral. Apparently, her child shared it on social media, saying as if their mother was being oppressed and humiliated,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

The Umno Youth Chief said this while clarifying publicly after the confusion went viral following the woman winning the grand prize but then being asked to return the motorcycle.

His side stressed that there was no intention to embarrass the woman; instead, before that statement was issued, the woman and her husband had already agreed to accept cash compensation.

“But I didn’t say how much the cash compensation was because I wanted to request it today, and when we draw it tomorrow, I will ask The Honourable Chief Minister to announce how much compensation we will give to that woman.”

“So I feel it is my absolute responsibility to clarify this as it has damaged my reputation and that of the organiser, the Melaka State Government.”

“Never mind, ma’am has made the decision not to agree to return it, and her child has shared it on social media, the husband has also shared it on social media as if to defame us, we accept it. And we also decided we don’t want to drag this out, the RXZ that ma’am won, she can keep it,” he said.

He said a new lucky draw would still proceed on Tuesday with the motorcycle prize awarded to those who are truly eligible.

“We are the type who keep our word. So if we promised one thing and did another, it wouldn’t look good, right? So to all the nearly 40,000 participants, you all still have hope of winning this afternoon when we hold the lucky draw. God willing, the motorcycle can be redeemed next week at Seri Negeri,” he said.

Meanwhile, a live broadcast of the redraw was held at 4.45 pm on the Melaka State Government Facebook page. The draw was conducted by the Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, with Nurathiqah Zaidi, 24, from Bukit Katil announced as the winner.

Sinar Harian