PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei and his family visited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at his home for the Hari Raya celebration.

       Unknown to many, Lee and Ismail Sabri have been good friends since 2008, when the latter was Youth and Sports minister.

       Lee used to visit Ismail Sabri without fail every Hari Raya with his family, with the exception of the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       In the premier’s Facebook post, he said Lee, his wife Wong Mew Choo and the couple’s sons, Kingston and Terrence, were at his home to visit him for the festivity.

       “Chong Wei has been very close to me since I was the Minister of Youth and Sports,” he said.

       Ismail Sabri also expressed his appreciation to Lee for elevating the country’s name in the international sporting arena.

       Lee retired in June 2019 after representing Malaysia for 19 years in badminton tournaments.

       Lee described his meeting with Ismail Sabri yesterday as special.

       He said he did not wear the traditional baju Melayu during this visit as he had not been prepared for the celebration due to the surprise Raya announcement.

       During the visit, Lee also shared his views and knowledge on the country’s badminton development with the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Muhaini Zainal Abidin, who is also the patron of the sport in Malaysia.