Former Johor exco member being investigated for alleged SOP violation

JOHOR BARU: A former state executive councillor is being investigated by the police here for allegedly violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) on the first day of Hari Raya.

Seri Alam OCPD Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said that the police are investigating Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (pic), who is also the Bukit Batu assemblyman, after receiving a report from a 38-year-old man at about 3pm on Saturday (May 15).

"The man said that he came across a photo uploaded by a Facebook user where the assemblyman was seen visiting a house in Taman Desa Jaya on the first day of Hari Raya.

"In the photo, the assemblyman could be seen eating and celebrating Hari Raya with the owner of the Facebook account.

"We are identifying the owner of the Facebook account to assist investigations," he said in a statement here on Sunday (May 16).

He added that the case was being investigated under Section 269 of the Penal Code and the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021.

Meanwhile, Puah said that he would give his fullest cooperation to the police and would accept the penalty and pay any compound if proven guilty.

He admitted to being at the house but claimed he was there to hand over aid for distribution.

"However, I will give my fullest cooperation to the police and if the investigation proves that I have violated any SOPs, I am prepared to accept the punishment and pay the compound," said Puah, who is also state PKR deputy chief, in a statement.

In a separate case, three individuals lodged police reports at the Larkin police station on another SOP violation allegation.

According to the reports sighted by The Star, the complainants claimed that they came across a photo where several branch leaders of a political party here were seen violating SOP during Hari Raya.

An officer from the Johor Baru South police headquarters confirmed that they had received the reports.