M'sian musician to PM Lee: 'Where you from?'
He's used to being recognised everywhere he goes back home in Singapore.
But Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong experienced a light-hearted moment of anonymity during the 26th Asean Summit in Malaysia on Monday.
Before proceedings began at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the 63-year-old enjoyed a performance by musician Phillipus Jani with his unique homemade bamboo saxophone.
After snapping his photo, Mr Lee approached the Sabah native for a chat.
However, Mr Phillipus didn't recognise him.
Mr Lee described their meeting in a post on his Facebook page, which read: "Met this saxophonist entertaining the ASEAN leaders while we were waiting to start the meeting.
"He looked good, and sounded good. So I snapped his pic and chatted.
"Our conversation: 'Where are you from?' 'Singapore. Where are you from?' 'Sabah.'"
Despite the snub, Mr Lee saw the humour in the situation, as indicated by the smiley on his post as well as a reply he left on one of the comments on the post.
According to The New Straits Times, Mr Phillipus said he knew that Mr Lee must have been an important man because of the crowd he would be entertaining at the summit.
He said: "He approached me while I was playing the song 'Widuri' and spoke to me in Malay after I finished the song.
"After he told me he was from Singapore I told him I was there last month.
"He told me to come again and said I would be most welcome to return."
Source: Facebook, New Straits Times Online
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