A man in Johor Bahru is facing harassment and vandalism from loan sharks after purchasing a secondhand house previously owned by a debtor. Left with little recourse, he sought help from Lim Thow Siang, chief of Johor Bersatu’s associate wing public complaints bureau, to address the situation.
Xiao Ziqiang (transliteration) bought the house in 2023, moving in with his wife and two daughters early last year. He was unaware that the property had previously been owned by a 30-year-old with significant unpaid debts.
In August, a loan shark runner arrived at Xiao’s home, pasting a notice on the gate and trying to lock it. When Xiao insisted he owed nothing, the runner’s “boss” demanded that Xiao locate the actual debtor or face continued harassment.
On December 21, the harassment escalated. Loan shark runners returned around 12.30am, pasting notices and throwing red paint at the house and two of Xiao’s cars. A neighbouring car was also splattered. Xiao’s neighbour initially assumed Xiao owed money but later learned the previous homeowner had also faced similar threats.
Xiao reported the incidents to the police, spending hours cleaning the damage and covering the gate with a canvas to prevent further attacks. He expressed concern for his family’s safety.
Lim Thow Siang confirmed he would assist Xiao in dealing with the loan sharks and urged the public to contact the police hotline at 07-2212999 if they notice suspicious activity.
