CAMERON POLLS | PKR senator Bob Manolan Mohd must clarify threats he allegedly made to Orang Asli village chiefs (Tok Batin) in Cameron Highlands immediately, said party president Anwar Ibrahim.

“There is no coercion in a democracy. Bob has to clarify his statement immediately,” he said on Twitter today.

He was responding to a Malaysiakini report in which Bob Manolan was quoted warning the village chiefs that they could lose their salaries and posts if they do not support Pakatan Harapan in the coming by-election.

“Any batin who does not support the government, we will not pay salary. It's true!

“We will not pay them. If we pay them (but) they don't support us, why should we pay them?” he had said during a dialogue this morning.

Several Orang Asli chiefs have condemned Bob Manolan’s statement. 

Election Commission (EC) chairperson Azhar Harun, meanwhile, has appealed for witnesses of Bob Manolan’s speech to come forward and lodge a report. 

The senator has since claimed that his statement had been misinterpreted.

The Orang Asli make up a sizable minority in Cameron Highlands, comprising 22 percent of the electorate.

Polling is to take place on Jan 26.

Harapan is fielding DAP's M Manogaran, who lost to incumbent MP from MIC C Sivarraajh by less than 600 votes in the last general election.

BN's candidate is a local Orang Asli and former assistant commissioner of police, Ramli Mohd Nor.