SINGAPORE, Oct. 2 -- Suhaimi Yusof is now a renowned comedian in the local showbiz scene and he had help from a big Hong Kong star in the beginning.

The 57-year-old actor-host was a radio DJ from 1987 to 2001 before he was offered the role of a maintenance man in the beloved English-language Singapore-Hong Kong sitcom Living with Lydia, also starring the popular late Hong Kong actress Lydia Shum.

In an Instagram post on Oct 1, Suhaimi looked back on his early acting days fondly.

"Honestly, I was never given an acting role in any Malay TV dramas before this sitcom. I was known as the funny TV host," he said, sharing a snippet from Living With Lydia.

In the scene, which happens in episode three of the second season, his character Sulaim...