The group of friends aged 27 to 45 were each hit with a RM4,000 compound by police on MCO compliance rounds at Kampung Jeniang at 10.30pm on Sunday.

Kuala Muda police chief Adzli Abu Shah said the 13, including three women, were in the living room having supper and not practising social distancing.

He said the policemen were told the group had gathered to put up Palestinian flags to show support for its citizens amid Israel’s deadly air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Adzli said the cops then proceeded to verify their claim but did not find any flags nearby.

“Regardless of their excuse, they committed the offence of gathering by the numbers,” he told FMT.

Adzli said those caught appeared to live in different districts of Kedah, with one from Penang. He said those fined have 14 days to settle their fines at the district health office.

The offence was committed under Rule 9 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021 for organising a social event which was one of the 11 prohibited activities under the MCO.