KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, is currently resting at the National Heart Institute (IJN).
Speaking at a press conference on the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today, Anwar said His Majesty had been feeling tired and decided to recuperate at the medical facility.
“His Majesty is feeling a bit tired, so he’s just resting at IJN,” Anwar said briefly.
His remarks followed questions from the media regarding the Sultan’s absence from the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit held this afternoon, amid speculation that the Brunei monarch was receiving medical treatment.
The Sultan is in the capital along with other Asean leaders, who are meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and GCC dignitaries this week.
A Malaysian government source earlier told AFP that the Sultan “was hospitalised in between the Asean-GCC and Asean-GCC-China summit”.
“The National Heart Institute is the designated hospital for VIPs during the course of this Asean summit and relevant meetings,” the source added.
While IJN declined to comment, a separate Malaysian government official also confirmed the news to AFP. – May 27, 2025