Heng Hang Lim (left) showing his burning cars while Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (right) showing police reports lodged by the latter for loan sharks disturbance during a press conference held here in Johor Baru on Jan 4.
JOHOR BARU: A factory operator has cut ties with his eldest brother for putting their family in danger after borrowing SGD300 (RM984) from loan sharks in Singapore in the middle of last year.
Heng Hang Lim, 41, said that his 43-year-old brother, who works as a labourer with a renovation company in Singapore, made such a loan in June, 2022.
“My brother claimed that he borrowed the money after loan sharks kept pestering him to take the money from them. He took the money and a month later, our lives have been in danger ever since.
“He wanted to settle the SGD300 loan immediately by paying the loan amount, but the loan sharks told him that he needs to pay interest of SGD100 (RM328) for the next 24 months to them, which is crazy.
“My brother only paid the interest fee for only a month, and from SGD300, the amount has snowballed to SGD2,400 (RM7,877), with these loan sharks now targeting my family,” he added in a press conference organised by Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah Wee Tse at his service centre here on Wednesday (Jan 4).
He added that on July 19, loan sharks threw Molotov cocktails into his home at Kota Tinggi, causing severe damage to his property.
Heng said his two cars were burned down, while the fire also caused serious damage to his front porch, with losses estimated at RM130,000.
"What worries me is the safety of my two young daughters, my wife as well as my nephew, who is my brother’s only child, as I have been looking after him.
“I then deposited more than RM16,000 into a cash deposit machine last month to settle my brother’s loan but a few weeks later they returned my money via a cheque and ordered me to pay online.
“I found it weird as to why they ordered me to make payments via online. I did not follow their instructions as I had enough of them,” he said, adding that he also disowned his brother.
Meanwhile, Puah said that Malaysians, especially those working in Singapore, should avoid taking loans offered by illegal money lenders.
“There have been many cases where loan sharks are baiting Malaysians in Singapore by offering them loans.
“Taking loans from them will put their loved ones in danger,” he said, adding that he would highlight the matter to the relevant authorities to find a proper solution.
When contacted, Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Hussin Zamora confirmed the reports lodged by the victim in regards with the loan the brother made with the loan sharks.
