KUALA LUMPUR: A homeowner went through hell after loan sharks mistakenly targeted his home in pursuit of the previous owner’s son.
At a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head, Datuk Seri Michael Chong, the victim who went by Lim, said that he had purchased the home based in Overseas Union Garden from an agent in 2019.
All was well until June 2025, when he found a notice left outside his home demanding repayment from the previous owner’s son, warning that red paint would be splashed on the house if the debt was not paid.
“I filed a police report the same day and there wasn’t any more incidents until this year.
“On May 17, this year the house was then splashed with paint with it also hitting my car,” he said, emphasising that he has never borrowed money from any loan shark.
Further checks with family members of the previous owner showed that the outstanding debt to the loan sharks had also been settled.
“I want to make it clear here that I have no relationship with Mr Ku (the previous owner) whatsoever.”
Chong added that it was likely that the borrower had not changed his address on his identity card when borrowing money.
“I urge all to first do a background check at any properties before buying. Talk to the neighbours and find out if there has been any issues.
“In this case Lim later learned from neighbours that the house had previously been targeted by loan sharks.”
In a related matter, Chong said stronger legal action must be taken against the masterminds of loan shark groups, instead of only arresting its members.
He also said that there had been 133 cases involving loan sharks, with losses of around RM14.5mill.
He added that they were also cases of homes being burnt down where pets and even residents had been killed.
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Datuk Seri Dr King Lim Chin Fui, who was also at the press conference, said that he would bring up the matter to the Home Minister and the Inspector-General of Police.
“We are here to highlight to the police that they should go after the masterminds behind the groups. MCPF will be meeting either the minister or the IGP very soon,” he said.
