ROYAL DEMISE: NAJIB EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO PERAK ROYAL FAMILY

Najib interrupts China visit to pay last respects to late Sultan of Perak

BEIJING: 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 was 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.