By Derrick Vinesh

BUTTERWORTH, MALAYSIA - A man who bought a lottery ticket at a fund-raising dinner ended up winning RM18 million (S$7.4 million) in the Big Sweep lottery draw.

The winner from Bukit Gelugor won the first prize of RM3 million and RM15 million in the jackpot draw with the ticket number 5516233.

The draw was held at the Selangor Turf Club on Sunday.

The man apparently bought his winning ticket during a temple charity dinner in Raja Uda here early this month.

State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, who was at the dinner, said the Pertubuhan Dewa Tong Hai Keng temple organised the event to raise funds for a new temple building.

He said the 36-year-old temple was facing demolition and about RM1.5 million was needed to buy land for its new building.

Phee, who is also the temple adviser, said the committee held the dinner and bought 2,000 lottery tickets at RM3 each and sold them for RM10.

However, only 400 were sold and the temple decided to keep 500 tickets.

"A philanthropist later bought the remaining 1,100 tickets for RM6,333 and distributed some to the guests," he said.

"Those who attended the dinner came with a noble intention," said Phee.

"I believe when we do a good deed, it will return to us someday."