A TOTAL of 898 individuals were arrested by the police between January and August this year for their involvement in loan shark activities, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (pic).
“There were 1,009 cases recorded last year which resulted in 1,262 arrests,” he said in reply to a question by Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut).
Shamsul Anuar acknowledged that tackling the problem of illegal moneylenders is a daunting task as they provide cash quickly to borrowers compared to banks and licensed money lenders.
He also said loan sharks are now resorting to social media to offer their services unlike previous methods of advertising their services through posters.
In response, the commercial crime division of the police has set up a cybercrimes unit to deal with loan sharks.
Shamsul Anuar added that operations against loan sharks in Ops Vulture are still ongoing.
He was responding to Che Mohamad who asked about the action being taken to tackle the loan shark problem as there is a growing number of incidences where victims experienced violence at their hands.
Che Mohamad said the rising cost of living had driven some people to seek loans from illegal moneylenders.
He claimed that loan sharks had provided loans, with interest owed, totalling RM10bil to 32,880 people between September 2022 and May this year.
Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) asked if the police would offer protection to loan shark victims, including setting up a special unit to act as mediators between borrowers and loan sharks.
Shamsul Anuar replied that police will act swiftly on reports made against loan sharks and victims will be provided with counselling.
