KEDAH Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor says he is prepared to face legal action if found to have violated movement control order standard operating procedures (SOP) for allegedly test-driving a car at a vehicle sales and exhibition centre at Auto-City in Juru, Penang, on Saturday.

Sanusi said it is not up to netizens, his haters and supporters to decide if he is right or wrong in this matter, but rather the established law enforcement system in the country.

“I’m not saying I’m not wrong, but if there is a breach of SOP, it’s a serious case, and I apologise because it happened by chance,” he said in a press conference after visiting the Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centre at the Al Farabi Hall at the Education Complex in Alor Setar today.

He was asked to comment on visuals that have gone viral allegedly showing himself and several other people test-driving a car at a vehicle sales and exhibition centre at a time when the country is under total lockdown.

Commenting on the incident, Sanusi said he was on his way to Kuala Lumpur to attend a meeting accompanied by an escort officer and driver.

He said when he arrived at the place, he decided to stop to buy some food at a convenience store as he was worried that he would not be able to stop to eat anywhere else on his way to the federal capital.

“After stopping at the store, I asked my driver to buy some bread and mineral water and I realised there were a lot of cars there, so I got down (from my vehicle) to take a look and greeted a salesman who was there,” he said.

“The car sales gallery was closed, but there was a salesman, so I asked him about the cars there, and didn’t realise the incident was being recorded by an individual and later made viral.”

Sanusi said he is also willing to help pay the fines for his driver, escort officer and the salesman if they are issued compound notices for breaching the SOP as he feels that the incident happened because he greeted the salesman.

Commenting on the Toyota Vellfire vehicle belonging to Syarikat Air Darul Aman, which he used to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Sanusi said he is eligible to use it as chairman of the company.

Meanwhile, Seberang Perai Tengah police chief ACP Shafee Abd Samad said police have recorded statements from the menteri besar and four others in their investigation into the matter.

“So far, police have taken statements from five people, including the menteri besar,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

“Once the investigation papers are ready, we will forward them to the deputy public prosecutor’s office for further action.” – Bernama, June 7, 2021.