Thesun 2009-06-01 Page05 The World Of Along

theSun

œ5

| MONDAY JUNE 1 2009

news without borders

The world of along by Tim Leonard [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: The shocking incident in which three loan defaulters were chained like dogs and beaten by along reveals the ugly, inhumane and ruthless side of a multimillion-ringgit industry which is highly profitable, in demand and relatively safer than selling drugs. Based on information made available to theSun by Bukit Aman police, the illegal money lending industry in the country has grown tremendously over the last decade for a myriad of reasons and the menace associated with along shows no sign of ending for now. “Unlike selling drugs or dabbling in gambling and prostitution, loan sharking is a safer bet for many syndicates as it involves a simple act of using money to make more money,” a senior officer familiar with the operations of along said. He said most along start out working for a “boss” by distributing flyers, and based on their performance, they are made “staff” of the “company”. As a member of the staff, an along is assigned to work under a “supervisor” and the job includes running errands, collecting payments, checking on defaulters and pushing borrowers who don’t pay on time. “An along moves up the ladder to be ‘supervisor’ if he performs well in following instructions, bringing in new customers for the boss and collecting payments promptly. The supervisor is next promoted to ‘manager’. This however, takes a few years,

depending on ability to perform. “As a manager, an along enjoys benefits such as a ‘company’ car and a monthly salary, and if he makes profits without any problem, a bonus. “The manager often looks for big clients and does more strategy work, including going for ‘table talk’ if there are problems among syndicates or with clients.” The officer cited an example of a “manager” who made RM400,000 by providing a one-month loan to a furniture company in Selangor. “The furniture company had a client from Europe pushing it to deliver the goods and threatening to terminate the contract if there was further delay. “The company was hard-pressed for cash to buy raw materials, and unable to obtain a bank loan, they approached the along for a RM800,000 loan. “The loan was given and the furniture company managed to ship the goods on time, but they had to repay the along a sum of RM1.2 million. “Clients such as the furniture company are like a jackpot for along because they have collateral, borrow big and repay big.” The officer said apprehending along was not easy as their activities were camouflaged in a variety of ways. “Some along even do business on money borrowed from a boss. After collecting payment, they have to pay the boss first, and then get to keep the balance of the profit made from the loan. “So if the customer does not pay, the

along will have a lot of explaining to do and this is carried out in ‘underworld’ style. It is in circumstances like this that along take drastic action to make clients pay because they are accountable to the boss.” It is learnt that some along release monthly and weekly loans to a wide range of customers, from professionals to prostitutes. Although there are genuine cases, the bulk of people who borrow from along are gamblers and punters. “It is a vicious cycle, but at the end of the day, if there is no demand, there’s no supply,” the officer said.

Two of the three men held captive in Seri Kembangan for two months by along for failing to settle debts.

» Gamblers: The addiction to fast

and easy money makes this group desperate for cash when they lose money. So turning to along for financial help is the easiest way. The money is used to gamble again and winnings used to repay the along’s loan. If they lose, the cycle of borrowing continues. It is common for gamblers to borrow from multiple along.

Two more nabbed in probe KUALA LUMPUR: Police picked up two more loanshark runners on Saturday to assist in an investigation into a case last week of three debtors who were held captive by illegal moneylenders for failing to settle their loans. It is learnt that police arrested the suspects, in their 20s, at two undisclosed locations in Ampang. Sources said the suspects worked for the same illegal moneylender who had employed

three others earlier arrested after their debtors whom they confined at a shoplot in Seri Kembangan were rescued by Gombak police. A police task force comprising CID personnel from Gombak, Bukit Aman and the Selangor state contingent are also hot on the trail of the suspects’ employer who is said to be from Klang and has apparently gone into hiding. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa

»

Hassan was quoted by a newspaper as saying police were giving all along 24 hours to surrender, failing which police would publicly identify them and hunt them down. The latest operation folllows Wednesday’s incident where three men who had borrowed between RM1,000 and RM4,000 were confined with heavy duty chains attached to their necks and limbs in rooms at a shoplot turned into a “lock-up” for loan defaulters.

Hawkers and street peddlars: Such businesses need cash

to survive daily, especially to buy raw materials and run the business. Along often provide this group with fast cash since there is daily income. Repayment for this group is often on a daily basis.

»

Small businesses: Along favour lending to small businesses such as restaurants, workshops and grocery shops where there is daily revenue. Most small business owners, especially sole traders, borrow from along in the event of financial difficulties as it will be an arduous task to obtain a bank loan for their small business.

Emergency call centre earns plaudits by Charles Ramendran [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Control Centre (MCC), which coordinates and renders police assistance and other rescue aid in emergencies and disasters, has earned a feather in its cap from the public for its efficiency in responding to distress calls. The one-stop police call centre at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters is said to have almost never turned down calls, even providing solutions to the woes of odd callers. Several readers of theSun and others who had contacted the MCC in the past vouched for its efficiency, describing it as having shown a great “sense of urgency” in responding to calls. Although there are similar centres at the state and district police levels, the MCC is the best, they say. The head of the MCC, principal assistant director ACP Ahmad Marzuki Mohd Saad, when contacted said the centre’s main role was to act as an “assigning agency” after studying the nature of the calls received. He said police response to calls will depend on the nature of emergency. Priority would naturally be given to cases such as natural disasters and crimes involving life and death situations, he said. “Our response time for help to arrive at the scene of the emergency is eight minutes. Hence, we have to do all possible in the shortest time to ensure assistance is rendered within this time frame.” Ahmad Marzuki said emergencies usually reported were crime-related and immediately

acted on as the department operates round the clock. However, non-urgent calls involving other police departments received after working hours would be directed to the respective divisions and attended to as soon as possible. Ahmad Marzuki said calls unrelated to police duties are directed to the relevant enforcement agency after obtaining some verification. The caller might also be advised to do so. “If it relates to the police, we can act on it immediately, otherwise we guide the caller on how to go about resolving the issue with the right agency. We try our best to help every caller.” MCC personnel have also played counsellor to depressed and intoxicated callers who voice personal and marital woes, Ahmad Marzuki said. The centre, a division under the police Internal Security and Public Order Department, plays an advisory role to similar call centres at the district and state police levels such as the Rakan Cop hotline centre. On one wall of the MCC are video screens of real-time CCTV footage captured by the traffic video cameras of local municipal councils in the Klang Valley, and on another, a large graphic screen of Klang Valley roads. The CCTV footage which shows traffic movement is also used to detect suspicious-looking vehicles which are inspected to determine if they had been reported stolen. The graphic screen which is linked to a Global Positioning System displays the movement

Their clientele come from various walks of life

» Taxi drivers: An alarmingly large

number of cabbies in the city resort to borrowing from along, especially if their cab breaks down or needs maintenance. Money is repaid either daily or weekly.

»

Flesh trade workers: Along often work in cohorts with pimps to lend money to prostitutes. The loan is deducted from the earnings they get from each client they solicit. Many of these women borrow from along to finance their drug or gambling habits.

» Contractors: Along often provide

of police patrol cars in the Klang Valley. The centre has access to all patrol cars, which in an emergency, enables it to reach any one closest to the distress location. Patrol cars are also mornitored by the MCC to determine if personnel are covering all patrol areas under their responsibility. The centre has direct contact lines to its counterparts in every state, the Defence Ministry, Home Ministry and hotline centres such as those at major disaster scenes and by-election locations. Asked why the MCC seemed to be more responsive than its counterparts, Ahmad Marzuki said its workforce was larger compared to those at district and state levels. Also receiving public praise for its speedy action is the Kuala Lumpur contingent police Rakan Cop hotline at 03-2115 9999. The MCC can be contacted at 03-20319999, 20520999, 03-22626555/7555/6555/6509.

Control room officer ASP Shafiei Muhammad monitors a satellite video wall.

loans to contractors, and these sums must be returned with interest on a weekly or monthly basis. Many contractors, especially those on small jobs like renovations, need quick money to buy construction materials and pay the salaries of foreign workers, especially if their client delays payment.

» Working class: Many average

wage earners whose salaries are credited through banks, go to along if they need extra cash for marriage or maternity bills. The along will deduct the loan sum from the borrower’s salary.

» Middle class: Along also have

professionals like lawyers and doctors as their clientele. Many professionals refuse to seek financial help from colleagues or friends for fear of being looked down on. Since many along provide a discreet service, professionals have no qualms borrowing, and some even exchange cheques for fast cash to meet financial obligations.