KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak, who has been convicted over the mammoth 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, is in trouble with the law again - this time for breaking COVID-19 rules in a restaurant.

He was fined RM3,000 (US$730) for failing to register at the eatery or have his temperature taken, police said.

It came after footage circulated on social media showing the ex-prime minister flouting the rules in March at a Kuala Lumpur restaurant that sells chicken rice.

While Najib still denies any involvement in the 1MDB fraud, over which he has been sentenced to 12 years in jail, he was quick to admit his misdemeanour at the eatery.

The 67-year-old, who remains free on bail while he appeals the 1MDB conviction, used the incident to highlight other cases in which politicians allegedly broke the rules.

These include an incident when ministers allegedly travelled illegally to another part of the country to attend a wedding.

"Myself and the man on the street are investigated by police and fined by the government," Najib posted on Facebook, after the penalty was announced late on Thursday (May 6).

"But I don't know (if this will happen), if government ministers contravene the rules."

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The restaurant owner was also fined RM10,000 for failing to ensure that Najib followed the regulations.

Last month, Najib revealed that he is facing bankruptcy for allegedly failing to pay more than US$400 million in taxes, which could lead to him losing his seat in parliament.

He was convicted last year in the first of several trials he is facing over the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.

Billions of dollars were stolen from the investment vehicle and spent on everything from pricey artwork to real estate, a scandal that contributed to the downfall of Najib's government in 2018.

Malaysia is facing an escalating COVID-19 outbreak, and this week introduced new curbs in Kuala Lumpur and several other areas.

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