King talks about late son, tears up in front of China’s President Xi

BEIJING: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, became emotional when he talked about his departed prince Tunku Abdul Jalil with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The King was seen dabbing his eyes when expressing his gratitude to China for the assistance provided when the young prince underwent a liver transplant in 2014, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, reported Sin Chew Daily.

Sultan Ibrahim had posted a photo of him dabbing his eye during a meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People here on Friday (Sept 20).

Nga is with the King’s entourage, who is making an official visit to China from Sept 19 to 22.

“Although the surgery was successful, the prince still succumbed to his illness, so the King could not hold back his tears,” said Nga in a video call.

He said Xi and Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Affairs Minister, were deeply moved.

“They saw the King as a father who loves his son very much,” he said, adding that China is willing to enhance the people-to-people exchange with Malaysia.

Tunku Abdul Jalil, the fourth of six siblings, died of cancer in 2015. He was 25.