Media spotlight shifts to lover, who is said to be capable and happy-go-lucky
KUALA LUMPUR – AFTER intense media focus brought down a philandering Malaysian minister, the attention has shifted to the identity of the mysterious woman caught on video having sex with him.
A Chinese newspaper yesterday carried a drawing that it claimed looked like former health minister Chua Soi Lek’s lover. He had identified her as a ‘personal friend’.
The Guang Ming Daily described the woman as capable and happy-go-lucky. It said she has a round face and short hair, giving her a ‘China doll’ look.
‘China doll’ is the local lingo for young, pretty women from China who entertain men in seedy joints or lure married men for their money.
Datuk Seri Dr Chua stepped down as health minister on Wednesday after admitting to being the man in the widely circulated DVD.
The sex scenes were shot by four hidden cameras in a hotel room in what appears to be a sting operation.
Copies of the two-part DVD were placed in various locations in Batu Pahat and Muar for the public to pick up. Copies also made their way to other parts of the country.
Chinese newspapers in Malaysia reported that the woman, believed to be in her 30s and the owner of two clothes stores, fled to China after news about her escapade with Datuk Seri Dr Chua broke.
Earlier reports said she was a florist and that he had officiated at the opening of one of her shops several years ago.
Her stores have been closed for days and her house has been vacated, according to the Chinese media, which visited the premises in Batu Pahat, Johor.
It is believed that the sexual encounter took place in the RM800 (S$350) per night suite, Room 1301, in Hotel Katerina in Batu Pahat.
‘My biggest mistake was to go to the same hotel and the same room, thinking that it would be more convenient,’ Datuk Seri Dr Chua had said.
Mr Mahfuz Omar, the information chief for opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia, said at a news conference on Thursday that the woman’s name was Angelina Yam.
Meanwhile, Johor police detained a 29-year-old beauty salon owner in Batu Pahat on Thursday for allegedly distributing copies of the DVD.
They seized a DVD, three VCDs and a laptop from her. She has been remanded for four days. The police have also taken statements from Datuk Seri Dr Chua.
On Thursday, a seven-member forensic team from the federal police headquarters were at the hotel to investigate the illegal taping. They also took statements from the hotel staff.
In a related development, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi yesterday announced that Malaysian Chinese Association president Ong Ka Ting will be the Acting Health Minister, in addition to being the Housing and Local Government Minister.
