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SHAH ALAM - Former minister Tan Sri Idris Jala has been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.
The 67-year-old revealed the news during an episode of the Game of the Impossible podcast, which he co-hosts with his son, Leon. Idris explained that the cancer was discovered following a routine medical check-up for a persistent cough.
He will step back from co-hosting duties while Leon continues the show independently.
Known as a corporate "turnaround expert," Idris famously led national carrier Malaysia Airlines from an RM1.3 billion loss in 2005 to an RM852 million profit just two years later during his tenure as CEO from 2005 to 2009.
In 2009, he made history as the first Orang Ulu to be appointed a federal minister upon joining the Prime Minister’s Department.
From 2009 to 2015, he headed the government’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU), overseeing the National Transformation Programme. His work earned him a spot on Bloomberg’s list of the world's 10 most influential policymakers in 2014.
Following PEMANDU’s disestablishment in 2017, it transitioned into PEMANDU Associates Sdn Bhd, where Idris currently serves as President and Chairman.
