President Tharman takes Scoot flight from Ipoh to S'pore, fellow passengers break out in applause

Passengers on a Singapore-bound Scoot budget airline flight broke out in applause not when the plane landed — but before it took off.

This was after they realised that Singapore president Tharman Shanmugaratnam was on the plane with them as they were returning to Singapore from Ipoh, Malaysia.

President Tharman stood up and waved to everyone.

Sin Chew Daily reported that President Tharman was flying back to Singapore on a 5:25pm flight from Ipoh Sultan Azlan Shah Airport on Aug. 26 after concluding his two-day working visit to the Malaysia state.

VIP van on tarmac

It was reported that passengers spotted a VIP van parked on the tarmac as they boarded the plane.

The president was the last to board and he sat in the front row.

His appearance caused fellow passengers to whip out their mobile phones to record the scene.

When he heard the passengers at the back of the plane applauding, he politely stood up, turned around, and waved.

The photo of him on the plane was supplied by a fellow passenger to Sin Chew Daily.

Sin Chew Daily further reported that President Tharman had arrived in Ipoh on a Scoot flight on Aug. 25 afternoon and was also recognised by passengers waiting to board as soon as he got off the plane.

President Tharman and his wife, Jane Ittogi, were received by Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Sultan of Perak on Tuesday.

They were hosted at the Old Town White Coffee Experience Centre and visited Concubine Lane, as well as Ho Yan Hor Museum.

Top photo via Sin Chew Daily