[UPDATED] Penang exco Jagdeep Singh hospitalised after alleged assault

GEORGE TOWN – Penang state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here after he was apparently assaulted in a bizarre attack here.

The motive of the attack is not known, but it happened on Thursday evening when the state DAP leader was out shopping in Tg Bungah.

A middle-aged man approached him before shoving him against a counter and then pushed him to the ground, causing the Datuk Keramat assemblyman to suffer bruises upon falling.

Jagdeep, aged 51, is believed to have suffered injuries mainly on his leg due to the fall.

State chief police officer Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain has confirmed the incident, and said a suspect was subsequently detained by police over the alleged assault.

He did not elaborate further.

Incidentally, Jagdeep’s party colleague R.S.N. Rayer, who is MP for Jelutong, also suffered injuries recently when he was involved in a car mishap along a highway near Batang Kali, Selangor.

Jagdeep, who is the eldest son of the late DAP chairman Karpal Singh, is an outspoken state exco member here, particularly on issues related to his portfolios of housing and local government.

Recently, he drew much attention when he pushed across a plan to ban short-term stays at high-rise residential buildings in the state, stating that Penang wants to become the first in the country to enact such a legislation.

Jagdeep is in charge of the housing, local government, and town and country planning portfolio in the state government.

Meanwhile, attempts to contact his family were unsuccessful.

It is learnt that he is now warded at the Gleneagles Hospital here.

Fellow executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, when contacted, said that information on the matter was still forthcoming.

“I was informed that Jagdeep slipped and fell, but now there are reports that he was attacked. We need to check on this matter,” said Phee.

Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, when contacted, said that he was caught unaware of the incident and wished Jagdeep all the best in his recovery.

He agreed that police may need to step up security for elected public officials in view of a recent episode involving state government officials.

Penang Hindu Endowment Board executive director M. Ramachandran, 70, was attacked and slashed by a group of assailants last July here. – The Vibes, June 19, 2022