KUALA LUMPUR: A 50-year-old woman who works as a manager is living in fear with her children after being repeatedly harassed by loan sharks over an alleged debt incurred by her ex-husband, despite their divorce last year.
The woman, who wishes to be known only as Yuen, said she began receiving threatening WhatsApp calls and messages earlier this month demanding RM25,000 allegedly borrowed by her former husband.
She said the callers continued threatening her even after she denied any involvement in the debt.
“I told them I am already divorced and have nothing to do with him, but they said they don’t care,” she said at a press conference organised by the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department at MCA headquarters here on Wednesday (April 22).
Yuen said the situation escalated when the loan sharks began threatening to harm and abduct her children, both of whom are still in school.
“They sent my identity card details and family photos, and told me they have all my information. They warned me to be careful,” she said.
She added that the intimidation included threats to come to her home, prompting her to lodge a police report as the harassment worsened.
Yuen also said she does not know her ex-husband's whereabouts, who was previously believed to be working as a taxi driver.
Meanwhile, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said the father of the woman’s ex-husband, now 88, had sought help more than a decade ago when his son first became involved with loan sharks.
Chong said the family had previously received assistance to settle debts amounting to more than RM140,000 between 2012 and 2013, but the problem resurfaced.
“He has not changed despite the assistance given and continues to take loans and misuse funds, causing problems for the family, with his elderly and frail father still having to bear the consequences of his actions,” he said.
He added that the family is believed to have repaid more than RM176,000 in total over the years, including RM12,000 paid by the ex-wife in November last year, RM19,000 in February this year, and pledged jewellery.
Chong also said MCA has received 34 cases involving loan shark debts totalling about RM9.4 million, and urged the public to avoid illegal lending, which can endanger both individuals and families.
