THE political career of Jagdeep Singh, the eldest son of DAP icon Datuk Seri Karpal Singh, remains uncertain after Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow disclosed plans to meet the Singh family to discuss the health of his deputy.
The deputy chief minister is on an 11-day medical break to recover from various illnesses and spend time with his family
Chow said yesterday that he would meet Jagdeep's family to discuss the possibility of extending his medical leave.
Jagdeep, who is in his fourth term as the Datuk Keramat assemblyman, is scheduled to return to work on August 5. He is on leave to spend time with his sons and to seek a second opinion on an ankle injury and psoriasis.
Jagdeep also underwent a cataract procedure earlier this year.
"I will meet his family members. I will tell them if he needs extra time to recover, they can write to us and it will be considered. We will give him as much time as needed until he is deemed fit to return to work," Chow said.
Jagdeep is the first Punjabi to assume the office of deputy chief minister II. His brother, Gobind Singh Deo is the digital minister, while Ramkarpal Singh Deo was a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
Jagdeep injured his ankle after slipping and falling last year, resulting in surgery at Gleneagles Hospital.
He was accused of nepotism when he nominated his father-in-law, Datuk Baldev Singh Gurchan Singh, to chair the Penang Appeals Board. Jagdeep argued there was nobody more qualified for the position after it was offered to other legal experts who turned it down. Baldev has since withdrawn from the nomination.
Jagdeep, who is the Penang DAP deputy chairman, is expected to run in the state DAP elections, which will take place next month. – August 2, 2024.