By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 10: The Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) has urged authorities to launch an immediate, thorough investigation into alleged oppression, threats, and excessive debt collection linked to illegal moneylending syndicates, or loan sharks, in Sarawak.
MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the organisation had received various complaints in the state involving coercive tactics, including vehicle seizures, the dissemination of personal information and psychological harassment of victims.
“Five victims are here today, distressed by loan sharks. Their vehicles were seized without court orders, repayments have reached hundreds of thousands of ringgit, their personal information and identity card details have been circulated, their bank cards are being held, and they have been threatened at their own homes.
“How much longer will Sarawak allow such things to happen, as if turning a blind eye or as if the law is being concealed? Where are the rights of our people?” he said at a press conference at the MHO office in Kuching today.
He said all the victims had lodged police reports, but their complaints were classified as ‘Refer to Other Agencies’ (RLA) and referred to other parties, such as the Resident’s Office, without any progress or the appropriate investigation papers being opened.
One of the victims, who wished to be identified only as Isabella, revealed that she had become entangled in a loan dispute and continued to bear the burden of repayments even though the amount she had paid had far exceeded the original loan.
“I applied for a loan of RM10,000 in 2017 but received only RM8,000. I have been paying for almost 10 years, with the total reaching RM371,000, but I am still being harassed and pressured to the point of suffering severe emotional distress,” said the single mother of four.
Hishamuddin said that as a follow-up measure, MHO would submit an official representation letter to the District Police Chief to seek a review of the case status under the Moneylenders Act 1951 and escalate the matter to the Sarawak Police Commissioner.
“If we do not receive a response, we will refer the matter to the State Prosecution Division to seek an Order to Investigate (OTI) to ensure that the victims receive full redress,” he said. — Bernama
