PETALING JAYA: PAS president and Marang MP Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was not missing from Parliament but on medical leave, said his political secretary Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman.

       In a short text to The Star, Mohd Syahir, who is also Bachok MP, said that a letter and the hospital medical leave certificate were duly passed to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul yesterday, one day prior to the opening of the Parliament session on Monday (Feb 26).

       "His health is not permitting, and Abdul Hadi is still in the recovery period, as advised by his doctors. He also has to stay in the hospital for follow-up treatments.

       "We passed the necessary letter and the hospital medical chit to the Speaker on Feb 25 to inform him that Abdul Hadi would not be able to attend today's sitting. This was all done in advance to ensure that the Speaker was duly informed as to why Abdul Hadi could not be in his seat today," said Mohd Syahir.

       Earlier today, Abdul Hadi was not seen at the opening of the first meeting of the Third Session of the 15th Parliament, graced by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.

       During Sultan Ibrahim’s royal address, the PAS president’s seat at the front row of the opposition bench was seen to be empty, raising questions about his whereabouts.