PUTRAJAYA, Sept 10 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ordered all ministers to suspend overseas trips with immediate effect, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said today.

He said the directive would apply across the Cabinet, except for scheduled meetings or matters with specific approval.

“The decision is to ensure ministers focus on the implementation of several government programmes and preparations for Budget 2026, which will be tabled by the prime minister in October,” Fahmi said at his weekly post-Cabinet press conference.

He added that ministers would also need to prioritise preparations for the Asean Summit, which Malaysia will host at the end of October.

The 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur is expected to draw world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Anwar has also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “seriously considering” a visit to Malaysia, following his recent meeting with the prime minister in Beijing.