IPOH: Slim assemblyman Mohd Zaidi Aziz, who was forced to forgo the sitting, is feeling fine despite testing positive for Covid-19.

       The 43-year-old said he tested positive on Sunday and was now observing self-quarantine at home.

       “I am okay and not seriously affected.

       “I am supposed to finish my quarantine by Aug 31.

       “I will be monitoring the meeting via YouTube but will not be able to participate in any debate,” Mohd Zaidi said when contacted yesterday.

       He was among three assemblymen who were not present during the opening of the meeting yesterday.

       The other two were Kepayang representative Dr Ko Chung Sen and Hulu Kinta assemblyman Muhammad Arafat Varisai Muhamad.

       Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid said that the decision not to allow the three assemblymen to attend the four-day meeting was based on the recommendation of the state Health Department as well as the National Security Council.

       The meeting is being conducted in a “bubble concept” whereby Mohammad Zahir and 39 assemblymen would be placed in the main hall and the remaining assemblymen in four additional rooms.

       When contacted, Dr Ko said he came into close contact with a Covid-19 positive individual at work last Wednesday.

       “I did some self-testing at home and the results were negative.

       “I am fully vaccinated and not showing any symptoms.”

       Dr Ko added that as required by standard operating procedures, he had to undergo self-quarantine until Saturday.

       “I will only be following the assembly meeting virtually,” he added.

       Meanwhile, a spokesman from Muhammad Arafat’s office said the PKR representative had been fully vaccinated.

       “It’s not that he is not vaccinated, it is fewer than 14 days after his second dose,” the spokesman said, adding that Muhammad Arafat would be following the meeting from home.