By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 27: Special Assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Michael Kong Feng Nian urges local councils to take immediate and firm action to remove illegal advertisements by loan sharks, which continue to prey on unsuspecting victims.
Kong revealed that a man known as “Mr Ting” had recently sought his help after falling victim to a predatory moneylending syndicate.
“Mr Ting came to seek my advice regarding a loan shark issue. He had been coerced into signing documents acknowledging a loan of RM100,000, but in reality, he only received RM60,000,” said Kong in a statement today.
To make matters worse, the loan shark demanded possession of Mr Ting’s car as a “guarantee” for repayment.
According to Kong, the victim had obtained the loan shark’s contact number from one of the many illegal advertisements pasted on street poles around the city.
“This is precisely why these illegal advertisements must be removed promptly,” said Kong, adding that the advertisements are “dangerous traps” that could lead unsuspecting individuals into the clutches of predatory moneylenders.
Kong warned that the consequences of such illegal lending extend far beyond financial losses.
“The dangers are far-reaching, affecting not just the victims’ finances but also their families, livelihoods, and peace of mind.”
He criticised local councils for failing to act decisively despite having both the authority and manpower to address the issue.
Kong pointed out that the common excuse of having too few enforcement officers is no longer acceptable when councils already have a large number of contractors regularly carrying out tasks such as grass cutting, drain cleaning, and maintenance works.
He suggested that these contractors could easily be instructed to remove illegal advertisements as part of their regular duties, thereby helping to curb the problem more effectively.
Kong further called on local authorities to demonstrate will and take responsibility before more residents fall victim to unscrupulous loan sharks.
“We must not wait until more victims like Mr Ting fall prey to these illegal moneylenders.
The councils have the authority, the manpower, and the responsibility to remove these advertisements. We ask that they also find the will to act accordingly,” he said. —DayakDaily
