He said he received more than 1,000 “SOS” messages in less than 24 hours after uploading his joke about sharing his millions.

Contacted by FMT, Jufazli said he did not expect his joke to be taken seriously by the public, with some appealing for help to repay their PTPTN study loans or even for wedding dowries.

“Others asked for money to do business. I even received messages from Umno members. Many of them included their bank account numbers,” he said.

He said the issue arose after gossip was spread in Sandakan, Sabah, that he received RM3 million from Umno.

“I then, sarcastically, wrote on Facebook that anyone who wanted a share of the RM3 million could send their account numbers to me,” he said.

Jufazli said he had been keeping a low profile and refrained from criticising the Umno-led Sabah government after receiving threats since he joined DAP as a member on June 5.

“Some threatened to destroy my political career, others told me to withdraw from DAP, and some even offered me money to do so.

“Some of the threats came from people close to me, Umno people, (Sabah chief minister) Musa Aman’s people. My movements have been restricted since I became a DAP member.

“If I really received RM3 million from Umno, I would have gone overseas but I still intend to fight Musa Aman and Barisan Nasional,” he said, adding that he was lying low for his own security.

Jufazli had announced joining DAP in preparation to take on the chief minister in his Sungai Sibuga seat in the next general election.