Desperation can push people to take drastic measures, and for many, turning to illegal money lenders, or Ah Longs, feels like the only way out.
From mounting debts to heart-wrenching consequences like surrendering newborns, these stories shed light on the grim realities faced by victims.
M’sian teen borrows from Ah Longs to buy ikan siakap For GF
One such case involved a 15-year-old boy from Selangor whose act of love turned into a cautionary tale.
The teenager borrowed money from an Ah Long to fulfill his girlfriend’s craving for ikan siakap tiga rasa (barramundi in sweet, sour, and spicy sauce), a decision that left him entangled in a web of debt and despair.
According to a report by Malay daily Kosmo!, the teenager, embarrassed to ask his civil servant parents for money, turned to TikTok, where he found an advertisement for a loan shark.
He eventually racked up RM13,000 in debt across 12 different lenders, forcing him to drop out of school and move in with his uncle.
DM Fardu Ain and Al-Quran Studies Centre manager Fariz Izhar Adrus revealed that the boy’s parents were unaware of the situation until DM intervened.
“He likely felt too ashamed to seek help from his family and instead resorted to illegal money lenders,” Fariz said.
Women forced to surrender newborns to settle debts
This is just one of over 3,700 cases reported to Operasi Darul Muttaqim (DM) since its inception in 2022. The initiative was created to help individuals aged 15 and above who have fallen victim to Ah Longs and illegal lending scams.
Fariz shared that many cases involve women who borrow money to cover family expenses, only to find themselves trapped in horrific conditions. Some are forced to surrender their newborns as collateral or secretly negotiate with lenders to waive interest, often at great personal cost.
DM general manager Datuk Mohd Zaki Zainol added that they receive up to 50 reports daily of individuals struggling with loan shark debts, with women accounting for 40 of these cases. Many fall prey to these predators to fund scams, gambling, or even drugs, unaware of the devastating consequences.
