KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Miss Asia Malaysia 2023 winner Luwe Xin Hui can proceed with enforcing a court order for a RM1.48 million condominium, or its cash equivalent, after the High Court rejected an attempt by the pageant organiser to put the ruling on hold pending an appeal.

High Court judge Datuk Arik Sanusi Yeop Johari said Luwe should not be made to wait any longer for the grand prize she was promised after winning the pageant three years ago, the New Straits Times reported.

The judge dismissed an application by Asia Television Digital Media (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to stay the execution of an earlier ruling in Luwe’s favour.

On January 29, the High Court granted Luwe summary judgment and ordered the company to transfer and register in her name a unit at Picasso Residence in Jalan Ampang worth RM1.48 million, together with vacant possession and the keys.

The company was also ordered to bear the relevant costs, stamp duty and legal expenses.

If the transfer could not be completed, the court ordered the company to pay Luwe RM1.48 million in cash instead.

In his grounds of judgment, Arik said Luwe was entitled to the grand prize represented and promised by the company as the pageant’s main organiser.

He noted that although Luwe was crowned in 2023, she had still not received the property by the time she filed her lawsuit in 2025.

“However, since the plaintiff was announced as the champion of the pageant in 2023 until this action was filed in 2025, the defendant had failed, refused and neglected to deliver the grand prize to the plaintiff.

“Since the defendant had failed, refused, and neglected to deliver the grand prize worth RM1.48 million to the plaintiff, it is appropriate, as an alternative, for the defendant to remedy the situation and pay damages of RM1.48 million, equivalent to the value of the condominium, to the plaintiff,” he said.

The court also ordered the company to pay RM5,000 in costs.

In seeking a stay, Asia Television Digital Media argued that the condominium remained registered in the name of developer Premier De Muara Sdn Bhd and that transferring the unit would involve several procedural steps as well as additional costs and expenses.

It also argued that being required to pay Luwe RM1.48 million in cash could leave it facing substantial difficulty in recovering the money if its appeal ultimately succeeded.

Arik rejected those arguments, ruling that they did not amount to the “special circumstances” required to justify a stay of execution.

He said the company’s concern that it might not be able to recover the RM1.48 million was speculative.

“The court is of the view that this reason does not constitute a special circumstance which justifies a stay of execution of the judgment,” he said.

The judge also rejected the company’s argument that allowing Luwe to enforce the judgment would render its appeal nugatory or academic.

“If the defendant succeeds in its appeal later, the defendant may recover the RM1.48 million from the plaintiff and this would not prejudice or deny the defendant’s rights to the money,” he said.

The company filed its notice of appeal on February 26.

Luwe was represented by Chew Wee Kian and Ee Pei Ying, while Marcus Teoh and Doris Na acted for the company.