KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu was in high spirits when met by relatives, friends and colleagues at the Hornbill Skyways Hangar here yesterday.

They were there to welcome Jabu home after he was away since his heart surgery on May 20 in Kuala Lumpur.

After what Dr Liew Wee Liik termed as a ‘coronary artery by-pass graft surgery (CABG x 3)’, Jabu rested for about six weeks.

Jabu, also Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications, told reporters he could not wait to come back to work.

However, he said he did not want to defy his doctor’s order which was for him to rest until he is fit enough to do light task.

Dr Liew, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon attached to Normah Medical Specialist Centre here, has been entrusted to take care of Jabu.

Jabu said: “I am happy to see friends and well-wishers and also members of the media – who have been very helpful to me all these years.

“After being used to working reasonably hard for a great number of years, I am looking forward to continue that but subjected to the doctor’s advice.”

He said he would not argue with his doctor despite the urge to come back to work soon.

“I don’t want to argue with my doctor. But I will come back to work as soon as he thinks I am fit,” he said, adding that he did not feel any chest pain.

Jabu jokingly wished members of the media ‘Selamat Hari Gawai’ even though the celebration was last month. Dr Liew said Jabu’s May 20 open heart operation went very well.

“It was a successful operation and his (Jabu’s) recovery was truly remarkable and outstanding. But I wish that he would be having a lighter duty for at least another one good month … or at least another three weeks,” he said.

He said Jabu had a triple by-pass in a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Liew pointed out that the operation was a “straight-forward” one where three new vessels had to be added to Jabu’s heart to replace three blocked blood vessels.

Dr Liew said Jabu was now in excellent condition.

“After he had a heavy duty work, it is best that he should find time to rest and recuperate fully,” he said, adding that Jabu’s strong will and mind had helped to ensure the smooth running of the May 20 operation.

“Light duty, okay. Heavy duty, probably,” the surgeon said.

Dr Liew said Jabu’s condition would be reviewed once a week. When met later, Jabu’s daughter Barbara Dubah said her father was fortunate to have followed her mother for a medical check-up prior to the operation.

She said they found the vessel blockages by chance.

“If he had not followed my mum for the routine medical check-up, we all would not know that he had these vessel blockages,” she stressed.

“But after the operation, it is now a good time for him to rest to recover fully. He may also need to find time to adjust to new situation before coming back to work,” she said.

Barbara said her father was a hardworking man and that he would get bored easily.

To kill his boredom, Jabu would be finding out the current price of palm oil and the haze situation, Barbara said. He even would call home to find out the progress of preparations for official functions in Betong, she added.

“In fact, he wanted to come home much earlier but that would be against the doctor’s advice,” said Barbara who is based in Kuala Lumpur where she works as account manager for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.

Jabu’s high spirit and cheerful mood yesterday helped to dispel all sorts of unkind rumours about his health condition.

Jabu, also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president and Layar assemblyman, has four children and five grandchildren.