KUALA LUMPUR: When news that Thai R&B sensation Lydia Sarunrat Visutthithada was in town, there was a big buzz.

The 21-year-old singer was to take part in Bonia's fashion preview for 2009, a press conference for Bonia and an interview with the New Straits Times yesterday.

However, she failed to turn up for any of the appointments as she was reported to have fallen sick.

Once rumoured to have had an affair with former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Lydia, who is also a professional golfer, last year wrote a book, Lydia... Here I Am, where she talked about Thaksin being no more than a golfing partner.

However, some websites have her also being Thaksin's karaoke buddy. These websites also claim the duo go on shopping trips together.
A "goddaughter" of Thaksin, she released two albums and one with Thai pop group Dream II.

She has been accepted to study at Harvard University in the US next year and speaks fluent Spanish, English and Thai.

Thaksin, who divorced his wife Pojaman after 32 years of marriage, also denied rumours of him having an affair with Lydia.