Muar Parents Spend More Than RM130,000 To Settle Their Son’s Debts

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A Johor couple say they have been left financially ruined after spending more than RM100,000 over eight years to settle gambling-related debts incurred by their son

The couple from Muar said they have now exhausted their life savings and made the difficult decision to sever ties with their 26-year-old son after he once again fell into debt, reported China Press.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, 15 June, the parents said they recently paid a final RM30,000 to settle part of their son's latest debts.

The father, 52, who operates a food stall, said the family had repeatedly tried to help their son overcome his addiction since he became involved in gambling at the age of 18 or 19.

Over the years, the family continued paying off debts in the hope that he would change.

For a time, it appeared that he had.

According to the father, their son moved to Singapore for work about three years ago, and the family believed he had managed to leave gambling behind

However, that changed abruptly last week.

"To our absolute shock, last week, my wife, my two daughters, and I successively received debt-collection calls from seven different loan shark syndicates. Only then did we realise he had fallen back into debt," he said.

The father said the latest wave of debts came as a devastating blow, particularly as business at his food stall has been poor in recent years, and the family's income has become increasingly unstable.

To settle the latest debts, the couple used up the remainder of their life savings. Part of the amount has already been paid, while the balance will be settled through instalments following negotiations.

The couple said they can no longer continue bearing the consequences of their son's gambling addiction

They announced that any future debts or liabilities incurred by him will no longer have any connection to the family, and that they have lodged a police report to formally document their position.

The parents described the decision as a last resort after years of broken promises and repeated attempts to help their son rebuild his life.

Meanwhile, Bakri member of parliament Tan Hong Pin's special assistant, Tan Thiam Soon, urged young people to stay away from illegal gambling and loansharks, warning that the consequences often extend far beyond the individual involved.

He said entire families frequently end up carrying the financial and emotional burden when gambling debts spiral out of control.