GEORGE TOWN: Police have recorded a statement from Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pic) to facilitate investigations into the gathering of MPs in Kuala Lumpur last week.

       "I've given my statement to the police from North-East District police HQ this morning regarding the gathering of MPs which took place in the capital on Aug 2.

       "The session lasted 45 minutes, starting at 10am at the Chief Minister's Office in Komtar," Chow, who is also Tanjong MP, said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 10).

       Earlier, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer gave his statement to the police separately at the North-East District police headquarters in Jalan Patani.

       On Aug 2, a group of Opposition MPs attempted to enter the compound of Parliament building and insisted that the Dewan Rakyat sitting continue.

       They then gathered at Dataran Merdeka and dispersed peacefully after police instructed them to do so.

       The five-day special sitting which was scheduled to end on Aug 2 was postponed on the advice of the Health Ministry following the spread of Covid-19 in Parliament.

       It is understood that more than 200 police reports have been lodged against the MPs for allegedly violating Covid-19 SOPs under the National Recovery Plan.

       On Monday (Aug 9), police recorded statements from 17 MPs while statements from 20 others were recorded on Saturday.

       Police are investigating the case under Section 21A of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, Section 269 of the Penal Code and Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.