KUALA LUMPUR: Harassed beyond the grave; that is the grim reality faced by the family of a man who died last year, yet whose debts to loan sharks continue to haunt his loved ones.
Lai, 51, said his brother-in-law Yee, 44, passed away in September last year, but the ah long have turned their fury on the family, knocking on their door and demanding repayment.
“We only found out about Yee’s debts after his death, when they started harassing us. They threatened us unless we settled his debts,” Lai said at a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong yesterday.
Lai said it was outrageous that loan sharks were going after innocent family members who never borrowed a sen.
“First, they came to the house, then the calls and messages started. We believe Yee got into debt after a failed business venture, but we don’t even know the exact amount he borrowed,” he said, adding that a police report has been lodged.
He expressed hope that the authorities can intervene before any of his family members are seriously harmed.
“We are innocent as we never borrowed from the loan sharks,” he added.
In a separate case, a 65-year-old mother known as Pek, broke down in tears as she revealed how she had already spent RM1.5mil bailing her 41-year-old son Lee out of debt, only for him to borrow again and vanish.
Pek is now left to face the wrath of the loan sharks.
“I sold my belongings to settle his debts. But now, he has borrowed more and fled, so the loan sharks are targeting us. They have threatened to burn down my house and even sent videos of petrol bombs being thrown at houses. I have no choice but to disown him,” she said in between sobs.
She has since lodged two police reports.
In another case, Soon, 30, said she suddenly became a target after discovering that her stepsister had used her address to secure loans.
“Out of nowhere, I started receiving threats from loan sharks over RM7,000 she owed. They even said they would upload my photos online and smear me as a scammer. I’ve lodged a police report,” Soon said.
Chong revealed that his department has already received 281 loan shark-related complaints this year, involving some RM26mil.
On average, the department handles 16 cases a month, but in July alone, it had to deal with 60 cases.
“The complaints received range from borrowers to their family members seeking help as they face harassment and threats from the loan sharks,” he said.
Chong expressed dismay that people continue to borrow from ah long despite countless media reports exposing their ruthless tactics.
“We urge those in need of financial aid to go through legitimate financial institutions or licensed moneylenders. Borrowing from ah long will only lead to misery and trouble,” he said.
