KUALA LUMPUR: After 14 years of dealing with her son's debts and the constant harassment from loan sharks, a woman has decided that enough is enough and has taken steps to disown her offspring.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference at the office of MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong at Wisma MCA on Wednesday (Aug 15), the woman, who only wants to be known as Ng, said her son, Chiow Chee Son, 36, started borrowing from loan sharks around 2004 to feed his gambling addiction.

In July alone, she paid more than RM16,000 to cover four loans, only to receive yet another call from a loan shark on Tuesday (Aug 14). The loan shark claimed that her son had borrowed another RM2,000, and demanded that she pay up RM10,000 to cover his debts.

According to Ng, her family had, in addition, paid more than RM50,000 to settle his debts with other loan sharks.

"I have filed a 'lawyer letter' to disown him on Aug 8," she said.

"Ah Long (loan sharks), please don't bother me anymore. I want nothing to do with him," Ng pleaded.

Her son had also signed and acknowledged the letter, with his aunt acting as a witness.

Lawyer James Ee Kah Fuk explained that while there was no legal procedure for the separation of a parent and child, the letter could be used as a notice for the loan sharks and her son.

“Usually there are legal procedures done for separation of spouse.

“But as far as one is concerned, there’s no legal procedures for a separation between a parent and a child or between siblings. This is based on my observation and experience,” Ee said.

Ng also filed a police report on Tuesday (Aug 14) to ensure her safety.

Chong said the loan shark situation in the country did not seem to have improved.

"Only half a month has passed, and I have already received 21 loan shark cases involving about RM2mil," he said.

-The Star-