Malaysian model proud to appear in Playboy

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian model Amber Chia said she is proud to appear in the inaugural edition of Playboy in Indonesia, even though her mother thinks she looked sexier in photos featured by other magazines, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The Star daily said Chia was slightly bemused at the controversy and protests by Islamic leaders in Indonesia following the release on Friday of a toned-down edition of Playboy.

Although it contained no nude pictures, the protesters said the publication was a form of moral terrorism in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

The Playboy edition featured photos of female models in under garments - tamer than the US issues of more than 50 years ago and less risque than other magazines aimed at men already for sale in the country.

"I didn't think it would generate that much interest. In fact, I am so proud to appear in the first issue of Indonesia Playboy as the eight pages of photos were tasteful, stylish and sensuous, but not pornographic," Chia was quoted as saying.

Chia, the current Guess International ambassador, was not the cover girl but was featured in the Celebrity pages of Playboy, in which she wore six outfits including low cut jeans and a black bra.

"When I showed my parents the proposed pictures, my mum laughed and said I had looked sexier in other magazines while my dad merely asked why they needed so many photos," Chia said.