POLICE are investigating Pokok Sena MP and Amanah deputy president Mahfuz Omar, who is accused of violating the standard operating procedures (SOP) during an aid handout programme.

Kota Star police chief Ahmad Shukri Mat Akhir said that a police report had been lodged late last night after several photos of the programme went viral on social media.

Shukri did not name the politician involved but social media had highlighted an event showing Mahfuz giving out aid in his constituency, while disregarding Covid-19 SOP. He later admitted that he was being investigated.

“At 11.36pm last night, a police report was lodged and we found that there were several pictures uploaded by Facebook account owner Nurul Amin Hamid, which featured an MP in Kedah at an aid handout programme.

“The case is being investigated under Rules 11(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulations 2021 for the offence of gathering in a public place and 17(1) of the same regulations for the offence of not wearing a face mask and not maintaining social distancing,” Shukri said in a statement today.

In the picture that was shared on social media, Mahfuz was also seen sitting on a bench with his face mask under his chin, having a discussion with several other unidentified people, who were eating some snacks that were placed on the bench.

Meanwhile, Mahfuz acknowledged the incident and told newspaper Utusan Malaysia that he respected the police’s decision to investigate and was ready to co-operate.

“The incident happened in Kg Alor Gandak on Friday evening. At that time, I was present to greet the locals and provide assistance to them,” he was quoted saying by Utusan Malaysia.

Mahfuz, the former deputy minister of human resources, also hoped that the police would expedite the investigation and treat him like an ordinary citizen.

“I hope the police will speed up the investigation and if there is a compound, it will also need to be expedited. I hope the police treat me like an ordinary person,” he said.

Earlier this week, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon apologised for breaching SOP by attending a durian party over the weekend in his Batu Pahat constituency, Johor.

He initially tried to brush off the video clip showing him eating durian with other people as an old video from before the current movement-control order (MCO), which prohibits social gatherings.

However, he apologised after he was outed by social media users, who analysed the recording to show that it was taken recently.  

The police also said that they have called in 14 people for questioning over the matter. – July 4, 2021.