Cover image via 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
A 27-year-old doctor in Johor is now drowning in debt after borrowing from multiple loan sharks to keep up with his friends' flashy lifestyle
It all started with a single RM5,000 loan to fund a holiday, said Skudai state assemblyperson Marina Ibrahim.
Marina said that the young doctor initially took out a loan from one group of Ah Longs (loan sharks) to go on vacation. But the debt quickly spiralled when he began borrowing from other illegal moneylenders to repay the earlier loan.
"He ended up owing seven to eight different loan shark groups. His monthly salary is no longer enough to cover the payments," she was quoted as saying by China Press.
Marina said this was a classic case of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" — with the doctor now stuck in a vicious cycle of mounting debt, all due to pressure to maintain a "glamorous" life
The assemblyperson said the doctor had turned to her for help after realising he could no longer manage the situation.
She urged Malaysians to think twice before borrowing money — whether legally or illegally — especially when it's just to chase instant gratification.
"Please think of your family before making such decisions," she said, adding that she's seen cases where parents are forced to sell off property to settle their children's debts.
Marina with her aide.
Image via China Press