Malaysians Vie to Nose Out Car Prize

It is simply a case of no smell too bad in Malaysia's latest reality challenge, in which contestants see who can endure the most pungent body aroma to win a sports utility vehicle.

The competition to see which of a radio station's four selected listeners will survive the longest cocooned in the prize car in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, without washing or shaving began as a publicity stunt last Monday.

But the heady cocktail of increasing stench, mounting tension and fiery group dynamics has got this nation of record-breaking enthusiasts hooked, with hordes of people visiting the smelly car outside the Sungi Wang plaza.

Inside are Wong Hsin Ee, 21, a law student; Sritharan, 23, a driving instructor; Mary Biniol, 32, a housewife; and Hew wee Keong, 36, a self-confessed "pain specialist".

Not only do they have different backgrounds but their star signs are also different, a crucial point according to the organisers.

The contestants are not allowed to leave the car, except for a 15-minute toilet break every three hours, when they may also eat. Although they are not allowed to wash, they are permitted to brush their teeth every two days, when they may also change their clothes - except for their underwear.

Work and entertainment are banned, except for the car radio. This is, not surprisingly, tuned permanently to hitz.fm, where many of the disc jockeys take great pleasure in abusing the increasingly weary and sleep-deprived foursome.

They also have no privacy. In addition to enduring the taunts of thousands of passersby, the four are being filmed, with the footage being posted on the radio station's website, www.hitz.fm No one has any idea how long the stinkathon will last. But if the pre-contest hype is anything to go by then Mr Sritharan must be the favourite. On his website profile it says he is willing to stay in the car "potentially forever" and that "BO and he were made for each other".

The organisers have not confirmed whether the winner will receive a free car interior spring clean as part of the prize.