Loan sharks in Malaysia hold ‘funerals’ for debtors
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Mr Michael Chong (seated, left) and Mr Ivan Tan (right) holding a conference alongside the three victims in Kuala Lumpur.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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KUALA LUMPUR - They used to issue threats, throw paint and even firebomb homes. Now loan sharks, commonly known as ah longs, have gone one step further – they are “killing” borrowers.
Well, not literally.
They are holding “elaborate funerals” for the defaulters and posting their actions on social media, said Datuk Seri Michael Chong.
The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Public Services and Complaints Department head said a victim by the name of Mr Tan saw a portrait of himself in a wake setting, with curses hurled using a joss stick shared on Facebook.
It caused confusion about his “death” and embarrassment for Mr Tan. It is also taboo for the Chinese to have a funeral when they are alive.
Speaking at Wisma MCA on July 1, Mr Chong said: “The man had borrowed RM10,000 (S$3,022) in February 2025, for his business and had paid RM6,000.
“Previously he had taken five different loans totalling RM50,000, all of which had been settled.
“On June 26, the ah long sent him a picture of a staged wake, which has since been deleted.
“This kind of intimidation shows how low they can go. They are using psychological fear against borrowers.”
Mr Chong also spoke about another man named Mr Chan, who is facing constant demands to pay more from a suspected runner going by the name of Mr Kai Qiang.
He said: “The man had borrowed RM700 but paid RM1,000 to Mr Kai Qiang.
“I suspect that this person, who is a runner, has gone rogue without the knowledge of the boss.
“We have a duty to expose such individuals because some of these money lenders are legitimate.”
Mr Chan had borrowed from nine different loan sharks, and had settled two on his own. For the remaining seven, he had managed to settle RM4,800 out of RM12,500.
In another case, Mr Chong said a mother from Cheras had disowned her son, Mr Chang Kok Wah, 37, who left home on June 17, leaving his family to face threats from ah longs.
Faced with demanding phone calls and threats to kidnap her grandchildren, Madam Kuek Bee Bee, 63, pleaded for the harassment to stop.
“Madam Kuek paid RM13,000 of the debts in May 2025, but her son borrowed more. They don’t know his whereabouts since he left.
“The family was even locked out of their home with an iron chain and padlock with a note instructing them to contact several numbers. The family lodged three reports in June 2025,” Mr Chong said.
As of June 2025, the MCA has received 165 ah long or loan shark-related cases involving a sum of RM18.6 million, of which over 85 per cent are from the Chinese community, Mr Chong added.
The bureau’s deputy chief Ivan Tan said stricter laws were needed to address the issue of loan sharks. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
