KUALA LUMPUR: Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has undergone spinal surgery and will be hospitalised for two weeks.
In a Facebook post, Rafizi said he suffered a slipped disc shortly at the same time he contracted COVID-19 in January.
"The situation worsened after a few weeks and I was in so much pain that I could no longer walk and had to use a wheelchair."
Rafizi said a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed he had a stenosis problem. He underwent surgery to remove a portion of the slipped disc and affected ligament.
"I can now walk again. Thank you to all the Universiti Putra Malaysia Medical Centre specialists and staff who treated me."
Rafizi said he hopes to return to work and continue his Yang Bakar Menteri podcast in March.
Last October, Rafizi suffered a heart attack and underwent a stent procedure to clear a blocked valve.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he visited Rafizi in hospital.
"Alhamdulillah, he (Rafizi) is getting better," Anwar said in a Facebook post, adding he was praying for the Pandan MP's speedy recovery.