Azmin Ali among those being probed for alleged health protocol violations during MCO 3.0 in Malaysia
Malaysia's Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali reacts during a news conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Mar 11, 2020. (File photo: REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian senior minister Azmin Ali is among those being probed for health protocol violations over the Hari Raya period, as the authorities acted swiftly on reports of breaches during the latest Movement Control Order (MCO).
The police received a report last Friday (May 14) alleging that Mr Azmin violated the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on receiving guests from outside his district during the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri the day before.
The police report made reference to a Facebook post, which showed a photo of the minister’s family members gathering at his house to celebrate Hari Raya.
The posting also alleged that Mr Azmin’s family members had travelled across districts to celebrate the Aidilfitri in his official residence in Putrajaya.
READ: Malaysia to be placed under another nationwide MCO from May 12, says PM Muhyiddin
Malaysian media reported that the post went viral, capturing the attention of netizens who mostly accused Mr Azmin's family members for violating the MCO SOP which among others do not allow Hari Raya visits that involve inter-district travelling.
However, the Putrajaya district police issued a statement on Sunday saying that its initial investigation revealed that Mr Azmin’s family members in the viral photo were not breaching the SOP, as they all are staying in the same house as Mr Azmin in Putrajaya.
Mr Azmin, a senior minister responsible for international trade and industry in Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Cabinet is staying in the minister’s official residence in Precinct 10, Putrajaya.
The Putrajaya police chief, Mohd Fadzil Ali was reported as saying by Bernama that "preliminary information showed that the celebration only involved Azmin's family members who live in the residence”.
“The staff at the official residence's control post also confirmed that on May 13, there was no movement of guests in and out (the property) as alleged in the viral Facebook post," added Assistant Commissioner Mohd Fadzil.
READ: MCO 3.0 not as strict as first lockdown, key is to balance health and livelihoods, says Ismail Sabri
He added: “Mr Azmin, his family members, the General Operation Force personnel who are deployed at the residence, Ummi Hafilda Ali Facebook account owner, and other witnesses will be summoned for statement recording to assist the investigation”.
According to Bernama, Mr Mohd Fadzil also advised the public not to make statements or comments that could tarnish the image, credibility and dignity of a person or department.
POLICE REPORT ON JOHOR OPPOSITION LEADER
In another police report filed over the weekend, a Johor opposition leader from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Jimmy Puah Wee Tse was also alleged to have violated health protocols by conducting a Hari Raya visit in Ulu Tiram, Johor last Thursday.
Mr Puah who is Johor PKR’s deputy chief admitted that he was in the house at the time of the incident but said it was to send contributions and aid to a PKR representative.
“Referring to the police report against me for violating the Hari Raya SOP, I would like to emphasise that I do not deny that I was in a house in Taman Desa Jaya at the time of the incident.
“However, my main purpose of going to the house was to send donations to a PKR Women’s wing representatives for distribution to single mothers and asnaf (poor and needy Muslims) and not to celebrate Hari Raya as alleged,” said Mr Puah in a statement reported by the Malay Mail on Sunday.
Last week, Malaysia’s two former prime ministers had admitted to their own brushes with the law for failing to comply with the COVID-19 regulations.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted and apologised for flouting the regulations during a Hari Raya charity event in his Langkawi parliamentary constituency early this month.
He was only told later that at one of the events he had violated the SOP by not taking body temperature when entering the venue.
Dr Mahathir said that he would accept any action in accordance with the law.
READ: Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad apologises for flouting COVID-19 rules
READ: Malaysian ex-PM Najib fined for breaking COVID-19 rules
Earlier, former prime minister Najib Razak also admitted that he had been fined RM3,000 (US730) for not complying with the COVID-19 rules when he failed to register and take his temperature at an eatery in Kuala Lumpur.
In his Facebook posting, he said that he and other man on the street will be investigated by the police and fined by the government (for breaching the COVID-19 SOPs).
“But I don’t know if this will happen if ministers contravene the rules," he added.
He said COVID-19 is a “serious outbreak” and that everyone should obey the SOPs.
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