KUALA LUMPUR: Reporters and members of parliament (MPs) were caught off guard by the sight of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim happily chatting away over a cup of teh tarik in the MPs lounge in parliament yesterday evening.

Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff told The Edge Financial Daily that many MPs were pleasantly surprised when Najib sat down to join Anwar for tea as many had assumed that the prime minister had entered the lounge to look for one of the ministers.  

Many of the Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives appeared curious and puzzled by the rare sight, Yusmadi remarked.

“It was a very good meeting. We were delighted to have the prime minister with us. It was very jovial, like old friends, you know,” said Yusmadi, who was present.

According to Yusmadi, the two leaders had a jovial conversation about Najib’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa, who is completing a degree in politics and international relations at Georgetown University in Washington DC, US.

Coincidentally, Anwar (Permatang Pauh-PKR) occasionally lectures at the same university.

Yusmadi said the opposition leader jokingly pointed out the irony of him being able to lecture at well-regarded universities overseas but was unable to do the same on home turf, prompting laughter from the prime minister.

According to Yusmadi, the power duo were also joined by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas-BN), DAP Youth Chief Anthony Loke (Rasah-DAP), and Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (Kuala Langat-PKR).

The PKR first-term MP also said the light-hearted conversations largely steered clear from the heavy political issues save for Abdullah Sani who reminded Najib to emulate his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who was the country’s second premier.

After spending close to an hour at the lounge, Najib took his leave after graciously thanking Anwar for the teh tarik.