JOHOR BARU: What started as a gesture of kindness has now become a nightmare for a man after paying RM200,000 to cover his son's loan shark debt.
The 50-year-old man who only wanted to be known as Chai said that he had been paying off his second son's arrears since December last year.
“He told me that his friend had used his identification card to borrow money from loan sharks and was being harassed by them.
“So to help him, I have agreed to pay that debt so that he would not be bothered.
“But the debt has just been continuing and I have used up all of my personal savings just to help him,” he said at the MCA Johor Baru Public Complaints Bureau here on Thursday (June 16).
Chai’s 50-year-old wife, who only wanted to be known as Nor, said that the last time they spoke with their son was on June 8, warning them of a loan shark threat before he went "missing".
“He warned us about a threat from loan sharks and asked us to take care of ourselves and be safe. We have not heard from him since,” she said.
On June 9, at 7.30pm, Chai informed that he suddenly received a text from an unknown number threatening him that something bad would happen to his house if he did not make a payment of RM9,000 on that day.
On June 11, at 3am, Chai said that there was a fresh paint smell coming from outside his house at Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, and discovered that his gate and front porch had been splashed with red paint.
“There was a note outside informing me that my son has a debt of RM39,000 and he needs to pay RM9,000 that day or else,” he said, adding that the whole family was now living in fear.
Chai also said that his son has also cut ties with the family and they are no longer able to reach out to him.
Meanwhile, Johor MCA public complaints bureau committee member Nicol Tan Hiang Kee said that the family have lodged a police report on the matter as they fear that something might happen to them.
“Borrowing money from loan sharks should never be an option, even when in trouble because at the end of the day, not only the borrower's life is threatened but their family's as well.
“Loan sharks only care about getting their money by any means necessary, so I hope that this becomes a lesson to those out there to stay away from these illegal activities,” she said.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat has confirmed the police report over the case and said the investigation is still ongoing.
