KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, who has been slammed for attending a lunch at a religious school in Perak during the Movement Control Order (MCO), has apologised for his action.
He said he regretted attending gathering at the Maidad Tahfiz Quran at Lid Dakwah Wal Imamah in Lenggong, following an official visit to the district health clinic on Friday.
In a statement today, the Bagan Serai Member of Parliament said he appreciates the sacrifices made by frontliners from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), the Health Ministry (MoH) and other government agencies involved in the fight against the Covid-19 outbreak.
"Thank you for your service and sacrifices made" he wrote.
Noor Azmi said he gave his statement over the incident at the Putrajaya District Police headquarters this afternoon, and is willing to render his full cooperation in the investigation.
It was reported that Perak police chief Datuk Razarudin Husain said initial investigations found that Dr Noor Azmi had earlier viewed the preparedness of the Health Ministry staff in Lenggong in his capacity as Deputy Health Minister, before attending the lunch at the religious school.
Noor Azmi and Perak state exco Razman Zakaria were seen in viral pictures enjoying a meal with about 30 others, including students, at a religious school in Lengoong.
The photos, which were first posted on Noor Azmi's Facebook account, were later deleted after many started questioning why they were violating the MCO as well as the social distancing norm.