Kota Setar district police chief Ahmad Shukri Mat Akhir said a police report was lodged at 11.36pm yesterday on the viral pictures on social media.

“The preliminary investigation found that there were several pictures uploaded by a Facebook account owner.

“The pictures show the MP in Kedah involved in an aid programme but appearing not to observe SOPs set by the National Security Council (MKN),” he said in a statement here today.

The pictures of Mahfuz, who is a former deputy human resources minister, has been circulating on social media since yesterday.

They showed him sitting cross-legged on a raised platform, with food and drinks, in the company of several others at a programme last Friday.

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 failing to wear a face mask and not maintaining social distancing.

Last week, police said they were investigating Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon for attending a durian feast recently.

The Batu Pahat MP apologised for his action and said he would cooperate with the police, who are investigating him over the alleged breach of SOPs.