ALOR STAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has confirmed that he will give his statement on his alleged violation of the standard operating procedures (SOP) in visiting a vehicle showroom in Juru, Penang, on Friday.
He said an investigating officer from the Penang police had already contacted him to take down his statement on the matter.
"I leave it to the police to investigate. The police will decide where the statement will be taken, whether at the police station or in the (MB) office. Penang police are investigating it because the investigation paper was opened there.
"If the police say there is an offence and if I am charged, I am sure I will not be facing the gallows. If there is a compound, I will pay and if the car showroom employee is compounded, I will also pay," he said.
Sanusi said this at a press conference after visiting the Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Center (PKRC) at Dewan Al Farabi here today.
Since yesterday, social media has been abuzz with photos and videos of a salesman and several individuals, believed to be Sanusi, who was alleged to have test driven a vehicle at the centre.
This was despite the country now being placed under a two-week total lockdown.
The posting, on several Facebook pages, received condemnation from various quarters, questioning how the Mentri Besar could go for a test drive when vehicle sales centres were not part of the essential services allowed to operate during the total lockdown.
Sanusi reiterated that no vehicle test drive took place as he was in Autocity Juru to buy food from a convenience store in the area.
The Menteri Besar explained that he as well as his driver and an aide left for Kuala Lumpur at 5.30pm to attend an important meeting and to meet investors on Saturday.
"Coincidentally when the driver was buying the food, I got out to see a vehicle in the adjacent shop being moved by an employee, I greeted and chatted with him for a while.
"The man introduced himself as 'Mr Ong' and explained the type and specifications of the vehicle with me sitting in the front passenger seat and the escort sitting in the rear passenger seat.
"According to the Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka (DBP), the meaning of test drive is to test the performance of the vehicle, but I did not do it (test drive) and when I was looking at other vehicles, I realised that there were individuals recording us," he said.
Sanusi said, due to security factor, his escort advised them to leave the place immediately
He was then notified that the video of his presence at the vehicle showroom had gone viral and had received all kind of reactions on the social media platform.
"I didn't know people were recording when I was looking at the vehicle. Suddenly there was some shouting when in fact there was no transactions or sales conducted, I even did not have time to take down Mr Ong's phone number.
"I regret that the person involved did not come to ask as to what transpired, I would have explained (the situation) to avoid any misunderstandings.
"Maybe because I am a controversial Menteri Besar some people think that when they record a leader who allegedly violated the SOP, that person will become a hero in this country," he said.
Sanusi added that he was prepared to be investigated and willing to face the legal process in the event his action was deemed to violate the SOP on movement restrictions.
"I'm not saying I'm not wrong or guilty, if there is a violation of the SOP then I apologise because it happened by chance, I like to greet people and talk.
"If I get a compound then I will pay and for the person who (video) recorded it, after this I will give the person a new gadget to make it easier for the person to record good things," he said.