Serdang district police chief A Anbalagan said the male suspect, 41, was arrested at his house in Serdang.

Based on the police report, the suspect was alleged to have sent a WhatsApp message with images of a gun and bullet, as well as a death threat, to the complainant, he told a press conference at the Serdang district police headquarters.

According to Anbalagan, preliminary investigations found that the suspect, believed to be operating alone, had been demanding “protection money” from traders in Kajang.

He said the suspect is believed to have been targeting traders who hired foreign workers, adding that the police also seized a semi-automatic pistol and eight bullets.

The suspect, who tested positive for drugs and had 10 previous criminal records, would be remanded until tomorrow and then handed over to the Kajang police, he said.

Anbalagan urged those who had fallen victim to the suspect to contact the police to facilitate investigations.