PM Lee reminisces about wanton mee in Perak during lunch with Dr M

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recalled enjoying wanton noodles in Bidor, Perak as a child at the official lunch with his Malaysian counterpart Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Monday (Nov 12).

Mr Lee said his first family trip was to Cameron Highlands, where they would stop over in Bidor while on the way from Kuala Lumpur.

“We would drive up to Kuala Lumpur taking most of the day and break the journey overnight staying and stay at the railway hotel,” Mr Lee said in his speech, referring to Station Hotel situated at the main railway station in the city.

“Nowadays there is the North-South Highway and the journey is much faster, but the route is not quite as adventurous or scenic,” he added.

Last week, it was reported that Malaysians have come out guns blazing against Singapore’s bid to stake a claim on street food common to both countries and for Unesco to recognise the latter’s hawkers as an “intangible cultural heritage”.

Mr Lee hosted Dr Mahathir and the Malaysian delegation at the Istana on Monday, as the start of the prime minister’s two-day visit.

In his speech, he mentioned several anecdotes to show the very close ties and friendship between the two countries, highlighting that several of his Cabinet members were either born, raised, or studied in Malaysia.

Mr Lee also pointed out that in contrast, Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali, who was also present at the lunch, was born in Singapore.

“We all have friends and relatives across the Causeway,” Mr Lee said. MALAY MAIL