JOHOR BARU: For movie buff M. Shariff, winning a Canon mini projector could not have come at a better time as he and his sons miss watching films on the big screen.

       The 44-year-old executive at an oil and gas firm, who won the prize in Star Media Group’s (SMG) 50 Days of Giveaways Contest, said he has already thought of a suitable spot to use the mini projector at his home in Kuala Lumpur.

       Adi-Yusdi: He is planning to give the Panasonic air purifier he won, which is worth RM915, to his brother to spread the joy of winning.

       “My sons and I are big fans of the movies and I know they miss going to the cinema badly during the pandemic.

       “We are being cautious; we do not intend to go to the cinema any time soon so the mini projector will be a nice addition to our home entertainment.

       “The prize is quite timely and I plan to buy a sheet to use as a screen,” he said.

       He said he started participating in the contest when it rolled out in July and also rallied some of his friends to join in the fun.

       “I think I am quite lucky because I am the only one among my friends to have won a prize,” said the father of two who was among the winners of Series 5 of the contest.

       A total of RM335,358 worth of attractive prizes have been given out in the contest so far.

       Dr Suganthy Robinson was another lucky winner who walked away with a Canon mini projector worth RM2,199.

       The medical doctor from Kajang, Selangor, said she was glad that her efforts paid off as she made it her daily routine to enter the contest before starting her busy day at work.

       Dr Suganthy: It is not her first time winning something from The Star as she took part in a slogan-writing contest about four years ago and won a TV.

       “I usually read the digital copy of The Star while enjoying my breakfast so I made it a point to submit an entry in the contest, too.

       “This is actually not the first time I won something from The Star. I previously took part in a slogan-writing contest about four years ago and won a TV.

       “I am still holding out for the grand prize as the winner has not been announced yet,” said Dr Suganthy, who has been reading The Star since she was young as her family members are long time readers of the newspaper.

       As for accountant Adi-Yusdi Yusoff, who won a Panasonic air purifier worth RM915, he plans to gift it to his brother to spread the joy of winning.

       The father of four said he did not expect to win anything as he did not take part in the contest daily and only entered whenever he received reminder emails from SMG.

       The 42-year-old, who subscribed to The Star’s e-paper last year, said he enjoys reading the comics section the most.

       “I usually read the newspaper from front to end where I take in the serious stuff first and end on a sweet note with the comics,” he added.

       The contest, held in celebration of SMG’s 50th anniversary, ended on Sept 9.

       Shortlisted participants will be contacted soon to determine the winner of the grand prize, a Mazda2 Hatchback.

       The grand prize winner will be announced in early November.

       The contest is sponsored by Mazda, Panasonic, Honor, Sunway Hotels & Resorts, Canon, Shopee, BOH, Wellous, SASA, Habib, Citizen, and Bank Rakyat.

       Visit bit.ly/smg50days for the winners announcement.