Kedah police chief Zainal Abidin Kasim has dismissed social media speculation that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, who have been slapped with a travel ban, were trying to flee the country.

This was after photographs emerged yesterday claiming that the couple had arrived in Langkawi, a northern island near the Thai border, with some 30 pieces of luggage.

"He arrived in Langkawi with his family for a holiday and had met with the former Kedah menteri besar (Ahmad Bashah Mohd Hanipah) and a number of other leaders.

"It was a routine meeting and he had already been playing golf on the island for two days," he said.

Zainal said such rumours should not be circulated as it would cause unease among the public.

Najib and his wife were slapped with a travel ban shortly after BN lost power in the May 9 general election.

The government said this was to avoid the possible need for extradition as the former prime minister is being investigated for the alleged multi-billion ringgit corruption scandal relating to 1MDB.

In a related development, China Press reported that Najib, along with one of his sons and friends, had booked a yacht for a fishing excursion while in Langkawi.

However, the plan was scuttled due to bad weather.