‘She can come and take over my job!’
by MASAMI MUSTAZA, Malay Mail, Dec 8.
MCA Public Services and Complaint Department head Datuk Michael Chong yesterday lambasted Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok, for criticising him over the way his department handles Ah Long cases.
Chong said Kok should not have made those statements to the media without fully understanding the situation.
“It is not my department’s place to refer Ah Long cases to the police on the borrowers’ behalf,” said Chong.
Chong was commenting on Kok’s statement in a Chinese daily that his department should not be helping debtors negotiate with Ah Longs to settle their loans.
In the report, Kok was quoted as saying that as Chong had access to the Ah Longs’ particulars, he should have reported them to police and let them handle the cases.
“The borrowers who come to seek my department’s help do not want to lodge reports against the Ah Longs. They are keen to pay off their debts but as the interest rates are too high, they see me so that I can negotiate with the Ah Longs to reduce their payments,” said Chong, adding that there are also those who ask for the payment duration to be extended.
“We will never go against their wishes in making police reports as it may spell trouble — we do not want that to happen. However, we will only get the police to take action if the borrowers are threatened.”
“If Kok feels that she can do a better job, she is welcome to take over my position,” said Chong.
“I will refer all Ah Long cases to her.”
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Wrong to negotiate with Ah Longs, says Kok
THERESA Kok is standing by her statement.
“It is wrong to negotiate with Ah Longs as you are acknowledging them and their actions. I have seen many cases where borrowers were harassed by Ah Longs until they are too afraid to come home,” said Kok.
“When Ah Longs threaten and harass their clients, that is a criminal offence — you can report them for that.”
When asked for her view on Datuk Michael Chong’s involvement in negotiating with Ah Longs on the borrowers’ behalf, she said borrowers should negotiate without third party intervention.
“In the first place, we have the Moneylenders Act 1951, which states that the authorities can act against any unregistered moneylender. The public can and should report Ah Longs and their illegal practices to police,” she said.
She also said that when police investigate, Ah Longs would usually back off.
“However, we need to get to the root of the problem. The act has not been enforced by the Government and police,” she said.
Kok said unless the public reports Ah Long and their activities, our society can never be ‘free’ of them.
YB,
But honestly, can the police protect the victims if the Ah Longs retaliate?
I just don’t want to be barking up the wrong tree, ie, unnecessarily targeting Michael Chong just yet, since he is a very popular figure.
Should the focus be on the police shortcomings instead to allow the Ah Longs to flourish?
YB,
Please accept Mike Chong’s offer, the only way for this Tabloid material guy to cease function will be to not contest in the next GE, as he is willing to hand over his job function. He’s been tabloiding on other’s misery for long enough now, hijacked his lousy 2 cent “potitical” agenda, make him history.