Man, Family Live In Fear After Being Harassed By Loan Shark

IPOH, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- A man and his family live in fear due to the actions of one of his younger brother, who failed to repay a loan borrowed from an loan sharks or ‘Ah Long’ several years ago.

The man, who wished to be known only as Lee, 37, claimed that the house, which is also occupied by his 76-year-old father, was attacked with a petrol bomb on July 27, resulting in damage to a Nissan van and the wall of a neighbouring house.

He claimed that two nearby houses were also not spared when red paint was splashed on them last June, and the Ah Long attached a piece of paper to the neighbour's gate with his younger brother's name, who took out the loan.

Lee claimed that his 34-year-old younger brother, who is believed to be working in Singapore currently, has been unreachable since November 2022.

"Our family is unaware of the loan and the amount borrowed by my younger brother. We live in fear and are concerned about our safety due to the harassment by the Ah Long," he said during a press conference at the Gopeng MP's Community Service Centre here today.

Lee said that his family had previously helped settle his younger brother's debt by paying a sum of cash to the Ah Long, and they believed they would not be harrassed again; however, they were wrong.

Meanwhile, Simpang Pulai assemblyman Wong Chai Yi said that they hope the public will avoid getting involved in unlicensed money lending or Ah Long activities, as such actions burden oneself and can pose a threat to both the person’s safety and those around them.

"If you are harassed or threatened by Ah Long, you should report it to the authorities immediately, providing all relevant information to assist the police in making an arrest," he said.

-- BERNAMA