Tuition teacher thwarts ‘hitman’ who tries to con him

IPOH: A tuition teacher in Bercham received a death threat but ended up counselling the supposed “hitman”.

Cheng Ming Tat, 39, said he got the call at about 11am on Monday from the purported killer, who was hired because Cheng had angered some people.

But then Cheng said, “I am a good man and he could not kill me”, adding that he knew it was scam when the caller asked for RM1,000 to not carry out the deed.

“I decided to play along, getting his bank account number in the process while advising him to get a proper job,” he said during a press conference held by Ipoh Barat MCA Youth chief Low Guo Nan at the Perak MCA headquarters here.

“He told me he was illiterate and has no choice but to be a killer to make a living. I even told him that I could help try to get him a job,” he added.

Cheng, who is Taman Desa Kencana Rukun Tetangga secretary, said he had dealt with about 10 such cases in the last five years.

“I knew I didn’t do anything wrong and I had nothing to worry about, although it was still a shock to receive such a threat,” he added.

Cheng received 10 calls from the man, who demanded for money, over the next two hours.

“The last call was while I was lodging a police report and the conversation was recorded by the police.”

“A police investigating officer then messaged the man not to harass me anymore and the calls finally stopped,” he said.

“My advice to the public is to stay calm if they received such calls,” he said. “Just don’t panic and don’t divulge any personal information to the caller.”