Reality show names ideal young Muslim

AN Islamic reality TV show that made its contestants counsel promiscuous teenagers and bury corpses has named a 26-year-old mosque prayer leader as Malaysia's top role model for young Muslims.

Producers voiced hopes yesterday of launching similar versions of Imam Muda, or Young Leader, in other Muslim countries after the Malaysian show's first season became the most-watched programme to ever air on pay-television network Astro's Islamic channel.

Muhammad Asyraf Ridzuan won the competition in an event broadcast nationwide from an auditorium packed with spectators who secured highly coveted tickets. It was the culmination of a 10-episode run to find a young man whose religious devotion could inspire other Malaysian Muslims.

Muhammad Asyraf's victory earned him prizes that included cash, a laptop, a car, an iPhone and an all-expenses-paid trip to Mecca.