Sim posted on Facebook that, after weeks of being busy with work, he ended up being hospitalised on the fourth day of the Chinese New Year.

Meanwhile, his media officer, when contacted by Bernama, said they were only informed of Sim’s condition after the minister had been admitted to the hospital.

The officer, who declined to be named, said that so far Sim’s family has not disclosed detailed information about the cause of his hospitalisation, but it is believed to be possibly due to extreme fatigue.