PETALING JAYA: Datuk Mahfuz Omar has urged the police to speed up their investigation into his alleged violation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP).

       The Pokok Sena MP said that he was waiting for the police to call him up for his statement.

       "I am ready to fully cooperate. I hope that the investigation can be hastened.

       "I don't want the people to have a negative perception of the police. I don't want to be considered as part of the kayangan (elitist) cluster but as a normal person," he said on Sunday (July 4).

       When asked if he was involved, Mahfuz declined to comment further matter.

       "I can't comment because police have opened up investigations," he said.

       Police had said earlier that they had opened an investigation paper for the case of a Kedah MP who allegedly violated the standard operating procedure (SOP) in Phase One of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

       While they did not name the individual, photos of Mahfuz sitting cross-legged on a raised platform with food and drinks with several other individuals after distributing aid went viral on social media on Friday (July 2).

       Kota Setar OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Shukri Mat Akhir said a police report was lodged at 11.36pm Saturday (July 3) over the incident.

       ACP Ahmad Shukri said the case was being investigated under Regulation 11(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) Regulations (No.4) 2021 for not wearing a face mask and not maintaining physical distancing.