INTERVIEW | New Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah is no stranger to the country’s basketball community, being dubbed the 'basketball minister' when he was tipped to make his return to the cabinet.

Saifuddin grabbed headlines when he wowed the public with a reverse layup at the 4th Asian University 3X3 Basketball Championship in Kuala Lumpur on July 14, playing beside Philippines Foreign Secretary Alan Cayetano.

"I was doing some shooting and layup with the foreign secretary of the Philippines, but that was more for fun. But it is not unusual to use sports (for diplomacy)...