JOHOR BARU: A family has expressed shock when a loan shark appeared demanding payment for an alleged debt of almost RM30,000 owed by their estranged son.
"We were shocked when a loan shark appeared and demanded a debt of SGD7,800 (RM27,739) owed by our child who has been estranged for 10 years.
"The loan shark then deliberately set fire to our neighbour's car as a means to pressure all of us," said the spokesman for the family known only as Lau, 62.
According to Lau, their neighbour, who is also a furniture maker in Taman Desa Cemerlang here, informed them that their car was believed to have been set on fire by a petrol bomb at 4.10am.
He said his neighbour received a note believed to be related to his son, Liang, who is in Singapore due to debt issues with loan sharks.
"What has happened is beyond our control. I am upset with what has happened; we haven't seen Liang for more than 10 years due to squabbles and disagreements.
"This incident is very disturbing and the neighbours are very worried about their safety; we hope that Liang will come forward and help to resolve this issue," he said when lodging a complaint with the special assistant to the Tebrau Member of Parliament, Jalex Lee, here today.
Meanwhile, Lau's neighbour, known only as Seng, 58, said he was grateful that his family members were safe when the incident happened.
"Our family car, a Nissan Almera was burned and damaged from the rear to the roof.
"Since the incident, our family has been unable to sleep well. I contacted the phone number left behind, and the loan shark said that they would return," he said.
Seri Alam district police chief, Superintendent Sohaimi Ishak, confirmed that police received a report on the incident on Feb 2, and investigations have commenced under Section 435 of the Penal Code.