Azrol said he was issued the compound on Saturday evening by officers from the Kulai district health office under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 for failing to practise physical distancing at the nomination centre.

His campaign manager, Amos Thien, claimed the health authorities had “gone out of their way” to issue Azrol the compound, maintaining that they were “normal fist bumps” with supporters outside the nomination centre.

He also said the Election Commission’s briefing on SOPs for the Johor polls, which were attended by the police and health authorities, did not mention that fist bumps were not allowed.

He maintained that Azrol and his team had been complying with the SOPs and questioned why no action had been taken against other political leaders for the same act.

“I hope the authorities act fairly because this is unfair to us,” Thien said at a press conference.

“We have been following the SOPs and rules set by the officials but this RM1,000 compound is really unfair,” he said, while holding up a picture of Najib Razak giving fist bumps in a recent visit to Johor.

Azrol said the health authorities issued the compound after they received complaints on social media.