GEORGE TOWN: Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo has dismissed claims that he is taking a step back from official duties amid talk that he is on garden leave.
Jagdeep told the New Straits Times that he is on a short break for medical reasons and that he will return to work on Thursday.
"I am currently in Kuala Lumpur to get a second opinion on my ankle injury.
"Although it has been two years, it seems to be getting worse. You can see me limping at times and I even had to be assisted by my officers to go on stage."
"I am also going to the same hospital to see a dermatologist for my psoriasis. It is getting painful."
Jagdeep said he applied for leave from Saturday until Wednesday.
He said he did not know where the talk about him going on garden leave came from.
In 2022, Jagdeep, the Datuk Keramat assemblyman was allegedly attacked by an unknown man at a shop in Tanjung Bungah.
The attack resulted in him falling and injuring his ankle.