SBS news presenter Lee Lin Chin has announced her resignation after almost 40 years with the broadcaster.

Speaking to Ten Daily‘s Sandra Sully, Chin, who spent 30 of those years as a presenter, said there were several “small to medium-sized reasons” for her resignation, but would not elaborate.

“There’s not one big reason. There’s many small to medium-sized reasons, which for the time being I wish to keep to myself but may talk about one day,” she said.

“One reason I shall reveal however is that working two days a week didn’t give me enough time to devote to the pub and re-reading the complete works of Shakespeare. So now that I work zero days that issue has been addressed.”

The prominent and stylish newsreader will deliver her last bulletin for SBS World News on Sunday.

Chin was born to Chinese parents in Jakarta, Indonesia, and grew up in Singapore before migrating to Australia.

SBS released a statement calling her “one of Australia’s most recognisable and respected newsreaders”.

Farewell @LeeLinChinSBS. We'll miss you! https://t.co/MJdVSSVmgr pic.twitter.com/bu2qXArPoK

— SBS News (@SBSNews) July 26, 2018

“Having spent the bulk of my professional life at SBS, this isn’t by any means an easy decision. I shall be leaving a happy and satisfying role as a newsreader. My friends and colleagues for whom I have fervent respect will be deeply missed,” Chin said.

Chin started working for SBS as a translator for Chinese-language films in 1980, and later joined SBS World News delivering weekend bulletins.

More recently, Chin was involved in comedy sketches with SBS VICELAND’s The Feed.

SBS managing director Michael Ebeid said Chin was “truly one of a kind”, adding that the broadcaster would “miss her colourful personality gracing our screens on the weekend”.

“Lee Lin embodies everything that SBS stands for and will always be art of the SBS family. We respect her decision to embrace new projects and wish her all the very best for the future,” he said.

Chin took to Twitter to clarify that she was resigning — not retiring. “Retirement”, she quipped, “is death”.

I have not retired, simply resigned. Retirement is death.

— Lee Lin Chin (@LeeLinChin) July 26, 2018

She was nominated for the Gold Logie in 2016.

Anton Enus will return to presenting two bulletins a week on SBS after successfully battling bowel cancer.

Lee Lin Chin fans react to her resignation

Chef Adam Liaw, who was the winner of MasterChef Australia‘s second season, said Chin was an inspiration, adding that she had “been the only regular Asian face on our screens”.

I joke, but Lee Lin Chin has been an inspiration. Unflappable, professional and talented she broke the mould of what you needed to look, act and sound like to be on Australian TV. For most of her more than 30 years at SBS she's been the only regular Asian face on our screens.

— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) July 26, 2018

A similar sentiment was expressed by writer Michelle Law, quipping: “Now there’s like 10 Asian people on TV but they’re all on MasterChef“.

LEE LIN CHIN + CINDY PAN WAS ALL THE ASIAN AUS REPRESENTATION I HAD ON TV GROWING UP, NOW THERE'S LIKE 10 ASIAN PEOPLE ON TV BUT THEY'RE ALL ON MASTERCHEF, DO NOT LEAVE US LIKE THIS LEE LIN!!!!

— Michelle Law 羅敏儀 (@ms_michellelaw) July 26, 2018

https://twitter.com/Rob_Stott/status/1022369306825224192

Chin’s resignation follows today’s shock announcement of Fairfax and Nine merging together.

–ABC