Living in fear of 30 ‘Ah Longs’

KUALA LUMPUR: A yoga instructor, whose husband owes 30 loan sharks a total of RM60,000, now fears for her safety as the "Ah Longs" are harassing her and her family.
The victim, identified only as Madam Lai, 57, said she will not have a happy Chinese New Year this year because of the loan sharks and she is frightened to even step out of her house due to their harassment.
"Dear Ah Long, I hope you understand the struggle of having a family. We are the victims.
"Stop this nonsense and stop harassing me and my children," she said during a press conference today at the office of MCA Public Service and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong.
"I know you people (loan sharks) like lending money to my husband because I will settle the debt each time, but not this time," she said.
Lai said she has been settling her husband's debts for the past 25 years.
In 1999, she was forced to sell her home in Johor Baru and moved to Kuala Lumpur, hoping the man will change, but to no avail.
Lai, who has three children, said her husband left the family home five years ago and she does not know his whereabouts.
Chong said this is not the first time victims are facing such problems and he urged the loan sharks to spare them.
"The loan sharks should resolve the matter in a more professional way, we know you need to make a living too," he said.
"Go after the defaulter. The victim is innocent," he added.
Chong said a total of 71 cases involving some RM11.5 million owed to loan sharks were reported to his office in January and February, mostly involving those who borrowed to feed their gambling addiction.