Cover image via 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
A 59-year-old waiter has exhausted his Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) savings to settle his youngest son's loan shark debts, but the harassment against his family has continued
"I've paid about RM70,000 to the ah longs," said the man, who wished to be identified only as Foo.
Despite the payments, Foo said the illegal moneylenders continue to pressure him and his family.
"Each time they call, they would demand a different amount," he said.
Foo said he no longer has money to repay the debts and is pleading with the loan sharks to stop targeting his family and neighbours.
"It is useless to harass us," he said at a press conference yesterday, 18 January.
The press conference was organised by Pasir Pinji assemblyman Goh See Hua, alongside city councillor Lim Chee Aun and a Democratic Action Party (DAP) service team.
The situation has taken a severe toll on Foo's family
The man said his 54-year-old wife has been suffering from depression, and her condition has worsened due to stress.
Foo said he was contacted by several loan sharks between 27 December last year and 4 January this year, who allegedly threatened to splash paint and burn down his house if the debt remained unpaid.
"White and red paint were splattered in front of my house on 12 and 13 January," said Foo, a father of three.
"But the loan shark won't say how much in total my son owes them."
He believes his 22-year-old son borrowed from loan sharks to fund online gambling
"He works as a salesman and travels throughout the country most of the time.
"He would only come home to ask for money to repay the debt and would leave after I transferred it to his bank account," he said.
Foo said he has not been able to contact his son since last month.
"I want him to come back, take responsibility and settle the problem himself," he said.
Meanwhile, Goh echoed calls to stop targeting innocent family members
"We must emphasise a basic principle: whoever borrows money is responsible for repaying it. Debt collection should not involve intimidation or harassment of relatives, nor any illegal acts that disturb normal life," he said.
He added that the family had already spent RM68,000 over the past year to help settle the son's debts, yet the harassment continued, including threats of paint attacks and arson.
Goh also urged parents to monitor their children's behaviour and warned the public, especially young people, to steer clear of gambling.
"Online gambling not only ruins individual futures but often brings severe consequences for the entire family," he said.
The assemblyman and his team said they would continue monitoring the case and work with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of Foo's family and the wider community.
The case has been reported to the police.
