PETALING JAYA: Sarawak deputy chief minister Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has defended himself over a video showing him giving out RM50 notes to roadside hawkers during a recent trip to Matu, Sarawak, claiming that the money was meant as payment for items he bought from them.
In the video which went viral recently, he can been seen handing out money to those operating hawker stalls.
In the 25-second clip, Awang Tengah was also seen without his mask on.
The Borneo Post reported him as saying he had been in a hurry and had asked his special officer to collect the items for him.
“I gave money to the stallholders and told them to pack my purchases.”
Meanwhile, on whether he breached movement control order standard operating procedures by not wearing a face mask he said he had already been contacted by the police.
“I have been contacted by the police saying I will be issued a compound. I admit my mistake. If issued with the compound, I will pay it,” he added. However, he did not reveal the amount he was asked to pay.