Enjoying a taste of nasi kandar at a coffee shop in Ipoh are (from left) Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia T. Jasudasen, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratna. -- PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
IPOH - SINGAPORE officials on a visit to Perak yesterday engaged in nasi kandar diplomacy, tucking into a hearty meal at a coffee shop with the state's Menteri Besar.
The visit surprised the lunch-time crowd at the packed Wangei coffee shop in Ipoh.
Joining Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir for lunch were Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Masagos Zulkifli. Also at the table was Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia T. Jasudasen.
Datuk Seri Zambry had earlier told reporters that he wanted to treat his guests to the best nasi kandar in town. They ate curried prawns, kampung chicken, fish, salted eggs and mounds of steaming rice.
Asked later how he found the food, Mr Tharman showed a thumbs up.
Mr Lui gave his own take: 'This is our way of getting to know the younger leaders. We don't just sit in the office to talk, but have a meal at the coffee shop.'
The ministers later joined Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who was having lunch at another restaurant.
Mr Zambry and Mr Masagos went for Friday prayers at a nearby mosque.
