But by the end of the evening, it was her beloved four-legged companion, HNWs Puma Chin – yes, that’s his name – who helped put Sarawak in the spotlight.
The Miri-based cat breeder was in Ho Chi Minh City for the 2025 Feline Fanciers Federation (FFF) annual awards dinner, where Puma picked up the coveted “household pet of the year” title.
He also made FFF history as the first household cat to secure international regional winning honours for two consecutive years.
This achievement followed Puma’s earlier success as “household pet international regional winner” in 2024.
“Puma is also the best East Malaysia regional winner and best national winner,” Chin said in a statement.
“All this proves that Sarawak cats can compete and excel on the international stage.”
This year’s ceremony brought together cat enthusiasts and breeders from across Asia under the theme “Born This Way”.
Participants came from nine countries, namely Malaysia, Brunei, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
While championship cats often dominate the spotlight at such events, household categories celebrate four-legged companions based on factors such as condition, temperament and presentation, rather than pedigree alone.
Puma was not the only feline from Chin’s household to impress judges. Another of her cats, Apek Charlie Chaplin Chin, placed 12th nationally and 10th regionally in the competition.
For Chin, the trip was also a family affair, with her son Nicholas accompanying her to witness the milestone.
“We want the world to know Sarawak, and we hope more people will visit Miri to experience the warmth of Borneo,” Chin later said.
She noted that other Sarawakian participants also performed strongly, with cat owners and breeders from Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei and Bintulu bringing home awards of their own.
Their success reflects a growing community of feline enthusiasts in the state, where breeders and owners regularly participate in regional and international competitions.
Indeed, if Puma’s latest achievement is any indication, some of Borneo’s most successful ambassadors may just have whiskers.