KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA Public Services and Complaints Department is urging victims of harassment and threats by loan shark scammers to come forward so that it can help them while compiling data on such cases for the police.
Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong told a press conference today at Wisma MCA here today (June 22) that the party's Youth and Wanita wings have been roped in to launch a nationwide campaign of victim assistance and data collection.
"Throwing paint at homes now is considered 'lenient'. We are seeing loan sharks throwing petrol bombs.
"They are growing rampant and do not care about the law at all.
"Even the cost of these violent acts, such as the money to make the bombs, is charged to the borrowers' account to increase their debts," he said.
He noted that a victim who came forward last week had additional threats issued the same night.
"That same night, they threw petrol bombs and paint. They said it was because the victim held the press conference," he said.
Chong added that he has met with Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Investigation Department and was told that violent cases will now be referred to the Criminal Investigation Department.
"The police have requested public information and cooperation.
"Besides MCA Youth and Wanita MCA assisting in this, we are also working with NGOs, namely the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF).
"(The victims) will be assisted by our lawyers in all states, who will also provide legal advice to those who need it," he said.
MCA Youth deputy chief Mike Chong said the cases have grown so severe that in one case, a victim was forced to repay tens of thousands of ringgit for a loan of only RM1,000.
"We will also teach victims how to write police reports because we were told that sometimes, the reports did not reflect the severity of the situation," he said.
Mike also said that some victims have had the police reports they lodged forwarded to them by the loan sharks, and has questioned how this can happen.
Chong, while stressing that they were not pointing fingers, also said that the police have promised to investigate the matter.
