KUALA LUMPUR: Despite being treated like her own child, a woman has faced severe financial losses due to threats from her adopted child.
The 60-year-old woman was forced to use her savings, as well as funds from her Employees Provident Fund after the 29-year-old, identified as Yeo, threatened to kill her and her family if his demands were not met.
To keep up with Yeo's demands, the woman sold her car and also took out loans from five loan sharks, totalling approximately RM245,000.
According to the woman's biological daughter, Ng, 38, the situation began after the death of Ng's younger sibling in 1997.
Ng explained that her mother adopted Yeo, who was a close friend of her deceased sibling because he frequently visited and inquired about them even after the sibling's death.
"I never interfered in my mother's relationship with Yeo as we didn't live together. However, one day I noticed that her car was missing. After various excuses, she finally admitted that she had sold it to buy five iPhones for Yeo," Ng said at a press conference at Wisma MCA yesterday (Sept 12).
She was also shocked to learn that her mother had given all her savings, including EPF funds totaling over RM100,000, to Yeo.
"Additionally, my mother took out loans from five loan sharks amounting to RM245,000 over the past few years because Yeo had threatened to kill us if she didn't comply with his demands," Ng added.
As a result, Ng and her mother filed a report at the Cheras police station recently due to concerns for their safety.
Ng was speaking at a press conference by MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau head Datuk Seri Michael Chong.
He said the bureau had received 237 cases of loan shark-related complaints amounting to RM21.6 million this year.
Another complainant, Lee, 53, revealed that his family is now living in fear due to his younger brother, who has used their names to secure loans from loan sharks.
Lee discovered this when he received calls from unknown individuals demanding repayment of a RM30,000 loan.
"Last Saturday, two men who appeared to be loan sharks came to my house, shouting and demanding repayment of a debt that I never incurred. I am certain that my younger brother used my name and address to take out these loans. I immediately reported the matter to the police because I am worried for my family's safety," Lee said.
Lee also visited MCA to seek help to avoid further harassment from loan sharks and claimed that his brother had taken out loans from six different loan sharks totaling RM39,000.