In a statement today, the PSD said Zamri was placed under the Perak state secretariat from Feb 18 and will undergo rehabilitative treatment.

“The Perak state secretariat has identified suitable replacement candidates and will carry out an exercise to fill the position soon,” added the PSD.

Hence, the PSD said claims of Zamri being removed from the position because of his “disappearance” for several months were inaccurate.

Last Sunday, Perak State Housing, Local Government, Public Transport, Non-Muslim Affairs and New Villages Committee chairman Paul Yong Choo Kiong was reported to have said that the new Ipoh mayor would be appointed by the end of this month to replace Zamri, who was said to have gone “AWOL” (absent without official leave).

He had claimed that Zamri was deemed to have gone AWOL because he had not submitted any medical certificates for several months.