A family in Johor have taken the heartbreaking decision to cut ties with their wayward relative after he racked up RM180,000 in gambling debts.
They held a press conference announcing their decision, with Johor MCA Youth public services and complaints bureau chief Henry Mok in attendance yesterday (Dec 3), reported China Press.
Family paid off RM200,000 debt back in 2018
The Chinese daily reported that the 27-year-old man named Hong Yongxing (transliteration) had accumulated a gambling debt of RM200,000 in 2018 and fled to a relative’s house in Kedah to evade his creditors.
In order to settle the debt, Hong’s mother surnamed Ong, was forced to sell off her deceased husband’s car and used the insurance payout to pay it off.
Sadly, this did little to stop Hong from falling back into his gambling habits and he delved further into online gambling and sports betting, leading him to rack up a staggering debt of RM180,000.
Harassed by creditors
Speaking to the media, Hong’s sister said the creditors turned up at their door last Friday (Nov 29) demanding the debt be repaid. They also detained Hong at a nearby coffeeshop as a way to further pressure the family.
“My husband had to negotiate with them from 8pm until 2am and my brother was eventually released when we filed a police report.
“The creditors then gave us only one day to come up with the money to pay the debt and even suggested that we mortgage our house to do so,” she said.
As for Hong’s whereabouts, no one has been able to locate him, leading his family to believe that he’s once again expecting his family to resolve the debt for him.
M’sian family disowns 27yo son over his RM180K gambling debt
Hong’s sister added that to this day, the family is still being tormented by the creditors, who called them every single day.
They have been harassing us daily, making our lives miserable. We are completely exhausted,” she said.
As for Ong, she said that while she was “heartbroken” to disown her son, she said his debt has left her unable to sleep at night.
“I don’t want my family to end up on the streets. We are completely out of money to help him,” she added tearfully when publicly cutting ties with Hong.
Ong revealed that Hong first became involved in forex trading during his high school years, which led to a lack of focus on his studies. He eventually dropped out of university and fell into gambling.
Hong’s sister said he briefly worked as a real estate agent and in other part-time jobs, but none lasted long. He even engaged in gambling-related schemes, which perpetuated his addiction.
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