SEMENYIH: Philanthropist Kuan Chee Heng (pic) will not be pressing charges against an individual who allegedly threatened his life, as he starts his campaign to win the Semenyih by-election.

The sole independent candidate said he decided not to lodge a police report over the incident, as he believed the threat was made by a mentally unsound individual.

"The person must have been mentally unsound, or was paid to do it.

"We hope this campaign period will run smoothly," said a spokesman with his camp.

Earlier, Sinar Harian reported that Kuan, who also goes by the moniker Uncle Kentang (Potato), received a call from a man who threatened to kill him and his family.

Kuan said he received the call while he was at a supermarket in Puchong.

However, Kuan said he was not shaken by the call, adding that it has even encouraged him to put up a tougher fight.

"I even invited the caller to come and meet me, but he said he was busy and could not find the time," he said.

In the Semenyih by-election, Kuan will come face-to-face with Umno's Zakaria Hanafi for Barisan Nasional, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's Muhammad Aiman Zainali for Pakatan Harapan, and Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.