PKR Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng, the lawmaker who recorded the lowest attendance record in Parliament, has clarified that he has been taking medical leave since last year.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, Teo said he had been sick three times since July last year, including being admitted to a hospital for ten days at the end of July last year and suffering from an allergy to his medication.
He said he is still under medical treatment and has not fully recovered to date.
“I was sick three times and now under thyroid medication treatment. Basically, I have closed my clinic for months and months (due to illness).
“I have been on treatments for such a long time,” said Teo after being contacted by Malaysiakini.
Previously, Malaysiakini reported that the analysis of attendance in the Dewan Rakyat during the previous five sittings has revealed that some senior MPs were prone to playing truant.
Teo recorded the lowest attendance among the 220 MPs, where he was only present for 13 days out of 71 days of sitting.
When asked whether he would apologise or explain his low performance in Parliament to voters, the lawmaker said he did not see the necessity.
“I already showed my medical report and submitted it to Parliament, that is good enough,” he said.
Teo also reiterated that he is gradually recovering now, and he planned to defend Miri in the upcoming general election.
“Yes, I will (defend my constituency),” he said.
Malaysiakini has also contacted those MPs whose attendance was not even a third of the 71 days for further response.
Sin Chew Daily reported last Saturday that Teo’s aide, David Hii, revealed a few medical documents and emailed a copy to Parliament to prove that Teo was given medical leave during the parliamentary sittings.
Hii said Teo was admitted to a hospital from July 27 to Aug 3 last year, and the doctor gave the MP 21 days of medical leave.
He also revealed that Teo had taken another week of medical leave in September last year and could not attend Parliament in October as he was identified as a Covid-19 close contact.
‘Affecting public’s trust in Pakatan Harapan’
Meanwhile, Tawau DAP Youth chief Thien Ee Hang expressed concerns about PKR Tawau MP Christina Liew’s poor attendance in Parliament.
In a statement two days ago, he urged Liew to work harder to retain her seat in GE15.
Thien expressed concern that Liew’s underperforming attendance in Parliament would further affect the public’s confidence in Pakatan Harapan.
“As shown by MyMP, Liew only attended 24 days out of 71 days of Parliament sittings. This is worrying as it would affect the public’s confidence in Harapan in the upcoming GE15,” he said.
Thien pointed out that since Liew was elected in 2018, she’s rarely seen in Tawau.
“This has also triggered the frustration of the locals in Tawau towards her performance.
“I would like to kindly remind the PKR Sabah chief of her duties and the mandate given to her by the locals of Tawau in 2018. We must focus and double our efforts in serving the people to retain all Harapan seats won in 2018,” Thien said. - Mkini
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