BEIJING, May 29 — Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is to interrupt his official visit to China and return to Malaysia Wednesday night to pay his last respects to the late Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.
A spokesman of the Prime Minister’s Office said Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, would leave for Malaysia after attending a function here Wednesday. After paying their last respects in Kuala Kangsar on Thursday, Najib and Rosmah would fly back to resume their six-day official visit to China that began Tuesday in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
According to the schedule of the China visit, Najib is to board a fast train on Thursday morning for Tianjin to witness the groundbreaking for the Xianda Integrated Seawater Desalination and Salt Making Plant in the Nangang Industrial Zone.
Malaysian Defence Minister and acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein is expected to represent Najib at the function. The spokesman said Najib’s meeting with his counterpart Li Keqiang on Thursday evening would go on as scheduled.
Najib is also scheduled to attend an economic summit with Chinese entrepreneurs. The highlight of the visit is the celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the Great Hall of the People on Saturday.
Sultan Azlan Shah passed away at 1.30 pm today. His Royal Highness was 86. The late sultan will be laid to rest tomorrow at the royal mausoleum in Kuala Kangsar after the ‘Asar’ prayers in the late afternoon. The lying-in-state will be held at the Balairong Seri (Throne Room) of the Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar earlier in the day.
– BERNAMA
