A family in Ipoh is living in fear after years of harassment from loan sharks, despite having cut ties with the relative responsible for the debt.
Fong Wai Sim, 42, said her son, who works in Singapore’s food catering industry, had repeatedly borrowed money from loan sharks, leading to relentless threats against the family.
Her daughter, Soo Meng Fong, recounted that the harassment escalated last Sunday (Dec 28) when the family home was vandalised with red paint at around 1.15am, affecting their car and front gate. A neighbour’s property was also damaged in the incident.
Despite reporting the attack to police, the family continues to receive threatening messages demanding repayment, even though they have severed contact with the indebted relative.
“We are unable to sleep peacefully and feel anxious whenever motorcycles or cars pass by the house,” Soo said. “The loan sharks even threatened that our home would be vandalised again if the debt isn’t settled.”
Fong added that she had previously helped her son repay his debts multiple times but could no longer do so. “I have had enough this time. I am more upset and disappointed with him rather than angry,” she said.
Perak MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau chief Charles Yuen, who organised a press conference on the matter, said illegal moneylending involving cross-border syndicates is on the rise. He urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to crack down on illegal loan advertisements online and offline, and reminded the public to rely on licensed banks and financial institutions rather than unlicensed lenders.
