Rising Malaysian star wins best actor award in China

MALAYSIAN newcomer Yuan Teng (pic) nabbed the Best Actor award at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent Award competition on June 21 for his role in Taiwanese flick The Paradise.

The 25-year-old, whose real name is Ong Chang Hong, is the second Malaysian actor to pick up the award after pop star Jack Tan won for Shuttle Life in 2017.

He beat off stiff competition from actors like India’s Phillip Sangma (Moan), Sri Lanka’s Pansilu Wickramarathna (The Other Half) and China’s Yue Chengxuan (Nimbostratus )and Zhang Dengping (The Road Home).

In his acceptance speech, Yuan Teng admitted that he was excited to be standing on such an important stage.

“Forgive me for being a bit nervous. When I was a child, I used to enjoy role-playing games with my friends, especially when it came to imitating big stars accepting awards in Shanghai. Never did I imagine that The Paradise would take me to this stage.

“Thank you to (producer) Ong Lay Jin; he was the one who picked me for the role. Thanks to the director Liao Shih Han, for his trust in me,” he said.

Although he won the award with a Taiwanese film, the actor did not forget to conclude his speech with: “Thank you Shanghai and thank you to my country Malaysia.”

The Paradise, also known as Le Yuan in Mandarin, is adapted from the true story of substance abusers in Taiwan. The movie also received nominations for Best Cinematographer (Meteor Cheong from Hong Kong) and Best Screenwriter (Chris Leong Siew Hong from Malaysia and Chen Ting Ning from Taiwan).