Malaysia’s Foreign Minister will be fined for smoking in a non-smoking area, according to the country’s Health Minister on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad shared a photo of Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan smoking at a street-side eatery in Negeri Sembilan. Smoking in all eateries and restaurants has been prohibited in Malaysia since 2019, with stricter regulations introduced in October.

“The Foreign Minister’s office has been notified of the issue,” Dzulkefly said on social media, adding that Mohamad Hasan himself requested to be fined for the violation.

Under Malaysian law, individuals caught smoking in restricted areas can face fines of up to 5,000 ringgit ($1,120).

Mohamad apologized on Wednesday, acknowledging that he had received a violation notice from health authorities, though the exact fine amount has not yet been determined.

“If this has caused concern or become an issue among the public, I sincerely apologize,” he said, as quoted in The Star newspaper. “I will pay the fine, and I hope it won’t be too high.”

The photo of Mohamad smoking at the eatery sparked widespread outrage online.

“Whether you’re a minister or a VVIP, wrong is still wrong. No one is above the law,” one user wrote on social media.

Another added, “Lawmakers and law enforcement officials who break the law should face even harsher penalties than the public.”