You shouldn’t criminalize people who have no choice but to turn to the loan sharks to buy food and clothes for their families.

Ravi Philemon, interview with Asia Sentinel


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15 Responses to “Singapore’s loan sharking problem”

  1. if they had created jobs which pay millions then, people need not break laws to survive.

    but alas, they created opportunities for themselves to make millions and now comfortably seated in ivory tower, preached high moral standing of social and personal responsibility( or labor) and what lofty ideals imaginable and then lay these heavy burden on the frail shoulders of men. if these rich ideals or impossible expectations are not religiously and fearfully complied with and obeyed…. whack, cane,jail, fine or slap you with legalities till it steals or robs you of your very last dollar that could have been used to maintain your aged parents.

  2. “You shouldn’t criminalize people who have no choice but to turn to the loan sharks to buy food and clothes for their families.”

    So loan sharks are the only one out there who is willing to help these people. If you get rid of loan sharks, who can they turn to? Would they ended up rob, steal, strip, drug etc.?

  3. hansolo 20 August 2009

    Unfortunately, borrowing from loan sharks only exacerbates the problem. So what can poor people in Singapore do? I’m not sure anyone has the answer.

  4. Ah Long Kia 20 August 2009

    The majority borrowed money from Ah Long to gamble or pay off debts. In the first place why so many avenues for gambling such as ToTo, Horse racing, Foot Ball, 4 D, Big Sweep and now Casinos coming. Who created these problems and who approved and encouraged to hv all these evil activites. The ans is the greedy govt to correct taxes.

  5. Ah Long Kia 20 August 2009

    Sorry shld read : The ans is the greedy govt to collect taxes

  6. Do you know that the government still has not totally disregard criminalizing burrowers from loan shark?

    Anyone wants to bet, there is a good chance that they will do it after the next general election?

    Criminalizing burrowers from loan shark can significantly reduces government resources,i.e. Police given the increasing problem caused by the policies themselves like no minimum wages, complete with foreign workers etc.

  7. aiyoyo

    see cna news :

    Singapore ranked second most expensive city in Asia, after Tokyo
    Posted: 20 August 2009 1808 hrs

    how to tahun?

    aiyoyo

  8. Having had some experience with those who turned to loansharks, I think some of them needs to be jailed for bringing trouble to innocent ones. This group tend to be hardcore gamblers, good for nothing, choose to be jobless type. If they had not turned to loansharks for their gambling addiction, situation would not have been too bad.

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