Juara Lagu winner Hael Husaini in awe of duet partner Dayang Nurfaizah

Singing with Dayang on Haram is a dream come true for Hael who regards her as his ‘first celebrity crush.’ — SAM THAM/The Star

Singer Hael Husaini remembers the first time he met powerhouse vocalist Dayang Nurfaizah more than a decade ago. A teenage Hael was sitting on a staircase at the now-defunct Planet Hollywood in Kuala Lumpur, waiting to catch Dayang’s live performance.

He recalls the moment like it was yesterday. “As she walked past me, she looked to me and said, ‘Hey, why are you seated at the staircase?’ I thought to myself, ‘I was a nobody and she’s such a popular singer, yet she acknowledged me. She’s really humble’.”