Proud winners: (From left) Ren, Mohd Rozaidi and Thinavan were thrilled to receive prizes from the subscription drive giveaway.

       PETALING JAYA: Graphic designer Ren Ee Chuan thought it was a scam call when he answered the phone and was told that he had clinched the grand prize for The Star Subscription Drive 2022 giveaway.

       He won a LG 65-inch 4K OLED Television.

       “I have been subscribing to The Star since it was available in digital form a few years ago. And I didn’t realise there was a giveaway going on when I renewed the subscription in March,” he said.

       Ren said that he rarely picked up phone calls from unknown numbers.

       “So I really thought it was a scammer. I was just waiting for the caller to ask for my bank details, but the person never did,” he quipped.

       Now, Ren is looking forward to reading the digital version of The Star on his new smart TV.

       Another happy winner is Mohd Rozaidi Ramlee, 58.

       “I took part just for fun. I had renewed my subscription so that I could enter the giveaway,” he said.

       He was not keeping his hopes too high, so he was thrilled to find out that he had actually won a prize.

       “This Tag Heuer Formula 1 Quartz watch will be a nice addition to my collection,” said the retiree.

       As for lecturer Dr Thinavan Periyayya, it was an unexpected belated birthday gift when he received a call a few days after his special day on May 23.

       He won the latest Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

       “It is time that I change my old phone anyway,” he said.

       Thinavan had renewed his subscription without knowing there was a subscription drive going on.

       “Reading The Star Digital Access is an advantage for me because I can download and send articles that I use for my lectures.

       “The Star Digital Access and print edition are a good combination for my daily read, that’s why I subscribe to them both but winning something is a big surprise,” he said.

       A total of 35 people won prizes worth more than RM40,000 from The Star Subscription Drive 2022 giveaway.

       Among the prizes were a smart TV, a Tag Heuer watch, a Samsung phone, Dyson vacuum and air purifier and AEON vouchers worth RM200.

       The Star Subscription Drive 2022 ran from March 28 to May 14. It was open to all members of the public aged 18 and above residing in Malaysia.

       Readers just needed to subscribe or renew their subscription with The Star newspaper, ePaper or Digital Bundle plans.

       The contest, which received overwhelming support, has ended.