JOHOR BARU: Loan sharks threaten a Johor Baru couple over their son's new RM400,000 debt.
Chong, a 66-year-old business owner, stated he and his wife previously sold their home and used their retirement savings to clear their son’s past debts.
"He started borrowing money in 2019. Initially, the amount was small, but it grew over time.
"We had no choice but to pay it off as the loan sharks continued to harass us, calling up to 200 times a day to threaten us and demand money," he said at a press conference at the Tebrau MP service centre here on Wednesday (June 24).
Their 33-year-old son recently lost his job in Singapore and borrowed an additional RM400,000 from new loan sharks three months ago.
Chong reported that the lenders threatened to burn their house and target their granddaughters, aged six and eight. The grandchildren entered the couple's care following the son's divorce about a year ago.
"The children are too young to understand what is going on, and we also do not want them to have to go through any of this at such a young age.
"We are living in fear now, too afraid to turn on the lights sometimes and constantly checking if anyone is following us when we go out," he said, adding that they have filed a police report.
"We used up all of our savings to help him the last time. We have nothing else to give now,” said Chong.
Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah's special officer, Sor Wai Kit, who arranged the press conference, urged the loan sharks to leave the family alone.
"They have nothing to do with this and should not be punished for their son's decisions.
"They have already given up everything they have and spent so many years living in fear," he said.
When contacted, a police official confirmed that they had received a report about the matter on June 15.
