The family of businessman Ch'ng Ban Ho, who has allegedly gone into hiding after owing a loan shark a staggering RM610,000, including 'interest', is living in fear of drastic repercussions.

His septuagenarian mother, Loh Ban Wah, is terrified of even venturing out of the house after several debt collectors splashed red paint on her house four times since April.

To add salt to the wound, the debt collectors had also put up posters near Ch'ng's children's school, bearing their picture with a caption that their father was a swindler.

"Both my grandchildren, aged 13 and 16, are terrified of going to school because they feel threatened and humiliated," Loh, 76, told a press conference at the MCA headquarters in George Town today.

She said Ch'ng, 32, had borrowed about RM27,000 a few years ago but the debt had now mounted to a staggering RM610,000, with 'interest'.

"I sold my small fertiliser factory and gave my son RM200,000 to settle his debt. Sadly, he vanished after that, and I do not know whether he paid his debt," she added.

MCA public service and complaints bureau chief Gui Guat Lye has vowed to sort out the school matters and also volunteered to resolve the debt issue involving Ch'ng and the loan shark.

Northeast District police chief, ACP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the police would track down the loan shark and make the errant parties face the full wrath of the law as the safety of the public was at stake.

- Bernama