The clouds drifted across a clear blue sky as 21 chosen finalists battled it out to become the winner of The Edge-Mah Sing Millionaire Contest. Organised by The Edge Media Group and Mah Sing Group Bhd, the finale took place at the Southville City @ KL South sales gallery in Bangi, Selangor, on Aug 22.

The finalists were Megat Syahir Megat Ahmad Azizuddin, Edmund Tan Chee Keong, Alex Hoe Kian Siong, Mohd Syahrul Azlan Rezhuan, Guan Shen Shen, Irwan Jemakun, Mohd Isa Khadis, Naveendran Shahol Hamid, Alvin Dickson anak Paul Joko, Heng Hiang Gek, Woon Yann Woan, Hong Lih Chun, Tham Wei Wei, Caroline Chan Mei Lin, Lau Joo Poh, Brian Lim Choon Wah, Wong Kah Yee, Soh Siew Hoon, Vanessa Mering, Abdul Rasyid Abdul Rahim and Liew Hui Wen.

Registration started at 8am and the finalists, along with their families, were excited and nervous about what awaited them. There were four rounds, the first three of which saw the number of finalists reduced from 21 to 15, then to 10 and finally, five, who went on to compete in the final round to determine who would take home the grand prize of a RM1 million prize voucher.

In the first round, there were three games — Ping Pong Popcorn, Nutcracker and Bottle Shaker. Most of the finalists faced difficulties in the Nutcracker challenge where they had to stack up eight lug nuts, using only a stick in one hand.

Retired medical technologist Soh Siew Hoon, 60, who was the oldest finalist, said the game was too tough for her as her hand kept shaking.

“This is my first time participating in outdoor games such as this. It is a special experience and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

The second round comprised two games — Ring Toss and All in One. The latter required swift movements as the finalists had to remove cardboard sheets that had been placed between stacked cups without any cups falling. Only 10 finalists managed to complete the challenges.

There were also two games in the third round, Go Distant and Rice Puzzle, with the latter taking a long time. As the minutes ticked away, it was anyone’s game.

In the end, Brian Lim Choon Wah, Hong Lih Chun, Guan Shen Shen, Tham Wei Wei and Caroline Chan Mei Lin completed the challenges and went on to the final round.

By then, only three games — Spoon Frog, Five Forward and Sand Bag Throw — stood between them and the grand prize. Hong immediately leapt to the lead and made it to the last game but was defeated by Lim, who successfully toppled a pyramid of cardboard boxes using the sandbags given.

Lim told us a few days after the event that, after discussing it with his family, he had decided to use his RM1 million gift voucher to purchase a one-bedroom unit at Icon Residence in Mont’Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

“I am so excited about owning a home. I never expected this day to come so fast. I will keep the unit for my own stay,” he said.

He added that the potential for capital appreciation and strategic location were the main reasons he chose Icon Residence. The unit he chose costs slightly above RM1 million but he does not mind paying a few thousand ringgit himself to own it.

Congratulations to Malaysia’s newest millionaire!

This article first appeared in digitaledge Weekly, on August 31 - September 6, 2015.