Holy cow, I thought it was a prank, says Datuk Salahuddin Ayub. The police do not think so as a minister has been threatened.

Suspect remanded over calf carcass and death threat sent to Salahuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: A dead calf together with a death threat were sent to Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, but he brushed it off as a prank.

But police later told him that they were investigating the case.

“When I arrived at the scene, my first reaction was that someone was just playing around and I hoped it would not be prolonged.

“But yesterday (Wednesday), the police told me this was a serious case as a minister had been threatened.

“I understand that the case is being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code,” Salahuddin told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Section 507 deals with criminal intimidation by anonymous communication.

The carcass and note were sent to Salahuddin at the Parti Amanah Negara service centre in Simpang Jeram in Muar, Johor, on Sunday.

Salahuddin said he had no idea why he was being targeted.

He also revealed that a suspect had been remanded at the Muar district police headquarters, but he did not know the suspect.

“I don’t even recognise his name. Most importantly, I want to know the real motive.

“I don’t have any enemies, I have never started a fight,” said Salahuddin, who is also deputy Amanah president.

Media reports, quoting Johor Criminal Investigation Department head Senior Asst Comm Kamaluddin Kassim, said initial investigations found that the suspect was unhappy because Salahuddin had previously rejected his application for aid.

Responding to this, Salahuddin said: “Every time I return to Simpang Jeram, I receive many applications and I’m unsure if he is one of them or not.”

The Kulai MP said he was unshaken by the threat.

“I don’t feel any fear. So far, I feel that I can still talk and work as usual,” he added.

Salahuddin, who gave his statement at the Muar district police headquarters on Wednesday, said he would leave it to the police to investigate.

His deputy Sim Tze Tzin confirmed the case in Parliament earlier yesterday, saying that the ministry was awaiting the InspectorGeneral of Police’s announcement on the investigation.

Sim said a police report was lodged as soon as the carcass and note were discovered.

“We, Pakatan Harapan MPs, will not be shaken by such threats and Datuk Salahuddin has informed me that he will continue to perform his duty to the people,” he said.

Sim said the ministry condemned such dirty tactics and would not entertain individuals or groups who blackmailed a government official or in this case, a member of the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Amanah vice-chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the incident was regrettable as Pakatan Harapan MPs were always open to discussion with the public.

“When there are problems, we are always ready to meet and talk things out instead of resorting to politics of making threats,” he said.