A 59-year-old waiter has exhausted his Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) savings to repay his youngest son’s loan shark debts, but harassment against his family has continued unabated.
The man, who identified himself only as Foo, said he had paid about RM70,000 to illegal moneylenders in an attempt to stop the threats.
“Each time they call, they demand a different amount,” he said, adding that he no longer has the means to continue paying.
Foo said the harassment has extended to threats against his family and neighbours, including warnings that his house would be splashed with paint or set on fire if payments were not made.
Speaking at a press conference on Jan 18, he said white and red paint were splattered in front of his house on Jan 12 and 13, despite the large sums already paid.
Foo said his 54-year-old wife has been suffering from depression, with her condition worsening due to prolonged stress from the intimidation.
He believes his 22-year-old son borrowed from loan sharks to fund online gambling. According to Foo, his son works as a salesman and would return home only to ask for money to repay debts before leaving again.
“I haven’t been able to contact him since last month. I want him to come back and take responsibility for this himself,” Foo said.
Pasir Pinji assemblyman Goh See Hua, who organised the press conference with city councillor Lim Chee Aun and a DAP service team, condemned the harassment of family members.
“Whoever borrows the money should be responsible for repaying it. Debt collection must not involve intimidation, harassment or illegal acts that disrupt the lives of innocent relatives,” he said.
Goh added that the family had already paid nearly RM68,000 over the past year, yet continued to face threats, and urged parents to stay alert to signs of gambling among their children.
The case has been reported to the police, and the assemblyman said his team would continue to monitor the situation and work with authorities to safeguard the family and the surrounding community.
