IPOH: Datuk Mazlan Abd Rahman is paying no heed to a WhatsApp message from an unknown person, demanding RM300,000 from him or his name will be dragged through the mud on social media.
The Barisan Nasional candidate for Hulu Kinta said he received a message on his mobile on Thursday (Nov 10).
"The person asked for the amount but I don't have that kind of money in the first place.
"The message stated if I failed to pay up, my image will be tarnished and my personal matters will be exposed on social media," he said during a walkabout on Friday (Nov 11).
Hulu Kinta is a state seat located within the Tambun parliamentary constituency.
Mazlan said he lodged a police report at 12.50pm on Thursday.
"I have been in politics for 28 years and I will not be shaken by such threats.
"Throughout my campaign period, I have not badmouthed anyone or any candidate," he said.
Mazlan said he would leave it to the police to investigate the matter and continue with his clean and healthy campaign.
"If they want me to pull out, it is not happening," he said.
Earlier, Perak police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri had confirmed that a Barisan candidate was threatened.
"The case is being investigated under Section 385 of the Penal Code for extortion," he said.
Comm Mohd Yusri had advised all politicians not to engage in any form of extortion.
"If found guilty, one can be jailed for seven years, fined or whipped," he said.
