Unnecessary violence: Heng showing his cars burning during the Molotov cocktail attack at his home in Kota Tinggi.
JOHOR BARU: A factory operator has cut ties with his eldest brother for putting their family in danger after borrowing S$300 (RM990) from loan sharks in Singapore in the middle of last year.
Heng Hang Lim, 41, said his 43-year-old brother, who works as a labourer with a renovation company in Singapore, got the loan in June last year.
“My brother claimed he borrowed the money after loan sharks kept pestering him to take the money from them. He took the money a month later, and our lives have since been in danger.
“He wanted to settle the S$300 loan immediately, but the loan sharks told him that he needs to pay interest of S$100 (RM330) for the next 24 months, which is crazy.
“My brother paid the interest for only a month, and from S$300, the amount has snowballed to S$2,400 (RM7,920), with these loan sharks now targeting my family,” Heng told a press conference organised by Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah Wee Tse at his service centre here yesterday.
He added that on July 19, loan sharks threw Molotov cocktails into his home in Kota Tinggi, causing severe damage to his property.
Heng said his two cars were wrecked, while the fire also caused serious damage to his front porch, with losses estimated at RM130,000.
“What worries me is the safety of my two young daughters, my wife and my nephew, who is my brother’s only child, as I have been looking after him.
“I deposited more than RM16,000 into a cash deposit machine last month to settle my brother’s loan, but a few weeks later they returned my money via a cheque and ordered me to pay online.
“I found it weird as to why they would order me to make online payments. I did not follow their instructions as I had had enough of them,” he said, adding that he had also disowned his brother.
Separately, Puah said Malaysians, especially those working in Singapore, should avoid getting loans from illegal moneylenders.
“There have been many cases where loan sharks are baiting Malaysians in Singapore by offering them loans.
“Getting loans from them will put their loved ones in danger,” he said, adding that he would highlight the matter to the relevant authorities to find a proper solution.
When contacted, Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Hussin Zamora confirmed police reports had been lodged.
