Woman fears for safety after being targeted by ah long in Ipoh

IPOH: A 52-year-old woman has spent RM2,300 on a home security system after her house was splashed with red paint twice in two months.

Rubber tapper Ten Yin Ching believed her home was targeted after her 34-year-old nephew borrowed RM5,000 from ah long.

Ten's plight was highlighted by Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Low Guo Nan, who shared that incidents involving ah long are a common issue affecting people in Ipoh.

"We hope that police will look into this matter and patrol the area more for the people's safety. I also hope that people will also look out for their neighbours and make reports if they see any suspicious activity," said Low, who is also Ipoh Barat MCA coordinator.

Ten's nephew is unemployed and has moved in from Johor to stay with her since 2020. Ten claimed that the nephew had previously ran into trouble with loan sharks in Johor.

"The first time it happened was on Sept 26. He told me that he would settle the matter. I gave him a week to replace the door. Then I decided to kick him out of the house because he didn't fulfil his promise," she told reporters at a press conference at her home in Jalan Lenggong.

Ten made a police report after the first incident on Oct 8, hoping that the police will increase surveillance at her home area.

Then on Oct 31, her home was splashed with red paint again and Ten began fearing for her 18-year-old daughter's safety.

"I have to set up a security system with three cameras so I can monitor whoever comes near my home. I hope this will make people think twice before they decide to do anything to my home," she said, adding that RM700 was spent on replacing the door after the first incident.

Ten was tearful when she talked about her daughter, expressing that her worst nightmare would be to have someone harm her daughter when she is not at home. Ten works as a rubber tapper in Lenggong, which is about an hour away from Ipoh.

"What if someone takes her away? I can't allow that to happen," she said.

By making her case public, Ten also hopes that the Ah Long will no longer disturb her, adding that she has never borrowed money.

"I would never ask anyone for help. But due to this incident, I have no choice but to get Low's help. I became a victim because of my nephew," adding that the nephew's whereabouts is currently unknown and has been uncontactable since he left home.