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For most parents, helping their children through difficult times comes naturally
But after spending more than RM160,000 over five years to clear his daughter's debts, a father in Selangor says he has reached his limit.
According to China Press, the semi-retired construction contractor from Batu 11, Cheras, said he is severing ties with his 25-year-old daughter after years of repeatedly helping her repay debts owed to loan sharks.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Selangor DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief Lee Boon Pin, the father, identified only as Mr Lee, urged illegal moneylenders to stop lending money to his daughter and said he would no longer take responsibility for any future debts she incurs.
"If any more loan sharks come to collect debts, go find the borrower yourself," he said.
The father claimed his daughter first became involved with loan sharks at the age of 21 due to online gambling activities
Despite his efforts to help her recover financially, he said she continued borrowing from multiple illegal lending syndicates.
According to him, the situation became so severe that he sold his house to help settle RM120,000 worth of debts she had accumulated.
He said his daughter had graduated from an international high school but remained unemployed. Later, she expressed interest in pursuing further studies in Qingdao, China, and he supported her financially throughout her time there.
However, after spending more than three years in China, he said he was unsure whether she had actually completed her studies.
Mr Lee said his daughter returned to Malaysia briefly before Chinese New Year this year, then moved back and forth between China and Malaysia.
At one point, she told him she wanted to rent a place in Kuala Lumpur with friends, which he agreed to support on the condition that she stop borrowing from loan sharks.
Despite that, he claimed she continued taking loans from several different syndicates.
He said debt collectors began contacting him again around February this year, forcing him to pay an additional RM40,000 to RM50,000 to settle debts on her behalf
Mr Lee also claimed that his daughter later travelled to the UK, where he continued sending her money through an e-wallet, amounting to about RM10,000.
After receiving further calls from loan sharks in recent days, he decided to publicly sever ties with his daughter in the hope that it would prompt her to change her behaviour.
"I have helped repay over RM160,000 in loan shark debts in total, clearing the principal loan amount. I hope to use the media to urge loan sharks not to lend to her anymore, as I will absolutely not help her pay them back again," he said.
Meanwhile, Lee Boon Pin said he has noticed an increase in young people borrowing money from loan sharks.
With the FIFA World Cup approaching, he reminded the public to stay away from illegal moneylenders and avoid falling into debt linked to gambling activities.
