Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has been released from the hospital and will stay in the Malaysian capital for a few more days to recuperate, his office announced on Saturday. The Sultan was admitted to a Kuala Lumpur hospital on Tuesday due to fatigue, although his office maintained that the world's longest-serving monarch is in "good health."
"His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, praise be to God, is back at the Grand Hyatt Hotel after spending a few days resting at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur," his office stated in an Instagram post on Saturday. "Medical experts have advised His Majesty to continue resting for a few more days before returning to Brunei," it added.
The 78-year-old sultan was in Kuala Lumpur for a summit with fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. On Tuesday, a statement from the Brunei prime minister's office, a position held by the sultan, indicated that he had been feeling fatigued and that Malaysian health experts recommended he rest for a few days at the National Heart Institute.
Sultan Hassanal has been on the throne since 1967. He is among the wealthiest individuals in the world and hails from a family that has ruled Brunei, a small Muslim nation located on the northern part of the tropical island of Borneo, for over 600 years.
Under his long reign, Brunei has achieved full independence from Britain, and its living standards have risen to some of the highest in the world. However, his rule has also faced criticism, particularly due to the implementation of strict Islamic laws that include severe penalties such as amputation and stoning.
