Borrowing from loansharks - criminalising without providing real choice
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Ravi Philemon
“Yes, I have borrowed from Ah Long”, admits Rezal (not his real name). “But I had no other choice! My wife lost her job in the factory and now earns about $400 as a part-time dish-washer; and we cannot survive just on my pay of $800.” Rezal, who has three school-going children and works as a Lashing Specialist, says. “There are really no containers coming in for me to have work everyday”.
Rezal, who lives in a three room HDB flat with his family, says that they managed to get by when he had a full days work; and the “$400 plus” his wife brought home every fortnight working as a factory worker, made sure that they had money for marketing, transportation, pocket-money for the children and themselves, etc. But now, he has to choose between paying his bills and putting food on the table for his children.
“My relatives helped out in the beginning, but they also have their own families. Finally last month I have to go to the Ah Long to borrow $200 to pay the bills”, says Rezal. “I have to pay the Ah Long $280 at the end of this month, but I think I can manage because I have started washing cars part-time now”, Rezal adds.
Should people like Rezal who are victims of circumstances and are already victims of sharks, loan-sharks that is, be further victimised by a new law that is under study to criminalise those that borrow from loan-sharks? Mr. Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs, says that this new law being studied by the police is to “hold borrowers accountable” for “their reckless borrowing”. He says these “reckless borrowing” endanger the safety and security of the community; and justifies it further by saying that many borrowers end up working as syndicate runners to pay off their debts, extending the circle of crime even further.
What other recourse do people like Rezal have? There is no unemployment insurance to tide the retrenched over the downturn till they find another job in Singapore. If you suddenly fall on trying times, you cannot draw a “hardship loan” from your own Central Provident Fund (CPF). If you earn less than $20,000 annually, you cannot borrow from the banks. Information on loans provided by credit co-operatives is not easily available. Since life is not a constant, what other solutions do people like Rezal have, when they are suddenly faced with the struggle of daily life?
When reminded that under the law that is currently being studied, he may be criminalised if he borrows from the loan-shark, Rezal replies, “If I have to choose between putting food on the table for my children and committing an offence by borrowing from the Ah Long, I will choose to become a criminal.”
Lawyers like Luke Lee disagree with the intention of the possible law. He says, “They are already down and out, no further action should be taken against them. Even if these victims sue the borrowers and win the case, the borrowers may not have the money to pay, and the victims would still have pay for the law suit.”
And what is the real intention of the Ministry of Home Affairs studying the implementation of this law now? Has the current economic crisis caused more people to turn to loan sharks? Have the incidences of the loan-sharks pressing for payments increased dramatically that police are struggling to cope? A Straits Times Forum writer seems to suggest as much, when the writer said that the police did not seem to take any action against the harassers, despite numerous complaints being lodged.
Such a law if implemented will surely make the job easier for the police as well as for the loan-sharks, for those that borrow from the loan-sharks, will now not come forward to say that they are being harassed, for fear of being criminalised themselves. This in turn will create a thriving black market for personal loans.
Some debtors do indeed assist the unlicensed moneylenders by becoming their runners and by aiding them in their harassment activities. But what is the actual statistics for this? There are of course “reckless borrowers” who borrow to fuel their addiction to gambling, for example. But again what are the numbers for these? Without providing the appropriate numbers and statistics, what Mr. Wong Kan Seng has done is to paint those that borrow from loan-sharks as the bogeyman who borrow recklessly and endanger the safety and security of his neighbours and community.
Of course the police should not hesitate to take action against debtors who are found to be assisting unlicensed moneylenders in their illegal activities. But not all debtors must be considered as criminal elements. There are sufficient safeguards in the current law to deter those that assist illegal money-lending activities; for the current law specifies that those who harass or intimidate anyone in connection with loans by an unlicensed moneylender face a maximum fine of $40,000 or up to three years in jail, or both.
Enacting a law to criminalise without having effective safeguards against the hurdles that life throws at those that earn lower income is, to say the least, not thoughtful. The government should kick-start an initiative like “Match-Saving Scheme” to assist those that are least able to save before even considering a law which would criminalise those that borrow from the illegal money-lenders. The “Match-Saving Scheme” could be made available to those who earn $1500 or less and match 50 cents for every dollar saved. The “Match-Saving Scheme”, should also specify conditions as to when such savings could be drawn. Such a scheme will kick-start a saving habit among those who are often least likely and least able to save.
“Of course if given a choice, I don’t want to pay so much interest”, says Rezal. “But what choice do I have?” he asks.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28041.1
Showing posts with label Loanshark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loanshark. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Singapore Government’s Solution to Loansharks
Singapore Government’s Solution to Loansharks
Seriously, I wondered why are the people paying so much money to the tune of 1-2million/minister when they can’t even offer proper solutions. Oh. By the way, make a guess who took this picture. It was taken by a stomp reader. This plus last Sunday news paper where a journalist “manage” to sneak a exclusive peek into the shady world of Geylang makes me wonder… Are normal citizen better than the police in finding crooks? Maybe that is the reason why we can’t find Mas Selamat after so long.
Anyway, was wanting to post this up yesterday. Felt I just saw crap plastered all over ST yesterday. Anyway, for those who have read yesterday paper, it was on the front page on how our still can’t catch Mas Selamat Minister saying on loanshark and those chronic gambler who borrow from it.
Loanshark cases up
Seriously, I think the people are tired of minister sprouting nonsense here. Seems like the minister are trying to outdo each other, Health Minister with his “please send your useless elderly to JB” gaffe, Lui Tuck Yew and his “ internet is not an effective self regulated regime” gaffe and now, we have our high and mighty Mr. Wong saying we should catch those idiots who borrow from loansharks gaffe. I wonder what is the flavor next month? Maybe like half way through the year I’ll come up with a post on the darnest things our highly talented ministers said so we can better emulate them. Anyway, sorry for digressing. :)
Said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng yesterday: 'This will hold borrowers accountable if their reckless borrowing or gambling habits endanger the safety and security of the community.'
I was speechless when I read this. Can he work some brain? Supply and demand my friend! If there is no one wanting to borrow money, you think the loanshark will stuff cash into you to ask you borrow from them? But I believe my highly talented minister see it from a different angle. This is what I think:
Our dear minister is sick of lesser mortal using the police to guard them against the loanshark. His message for lesser mortal like us is:”Please don’t disturb me with your problems. The government is not interested in solving it for you. We are a meritocratic society, if you have the talent, you solve the problem without the government help. If you can’t, it means you’re just lazy. GET OUT OF MY ELITE UNCARING FACE!”
He is so so sick of having his police force entertaining 4,000 police call regarding loanshark activities. Making so much loanshark call. How to properly go and catch that Mas “Houdini” Selamat?
So, realising that it’s always the borrower that calls the police for help… Highly talented minister got an idea. If I prevent the borrower from calling the police, I’ll cut police call by 4,000. Therefore, the solution was to penalise the borrower when they report to police. After a few public cases, borrowers will wisen up and not bugger the police anymore. Ta-da! Problem solved!
He can’t really be bothered if the borrower are protected. As long the loanshark don’t harass the government, all is peace. 井水不犯河水。 Afterall, his pay is pegged to the highest earner, not the lowest earner. Why content and bother with people who don’t determine how much he’ll get? Lesser mortal can only blame them self for not working/retrain hard enough and being such a lazy bum. The government is right not to provide welfare. Bloody lazy blood sucking lesser mortals!
Ok. Puns aside. The triad are doing their age old job. Providing services where the government fails to provide. If the people are being looked after by the government and is contented with what they have, you think who will still go and look for loanshark? And not all borrowers are gambling addicts. What a degrading stereotypical comments from the thou-holier-than-God men-in-white. To quote from the movie V for Vendetta:
How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.
paying peanuts to keep monkeys!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27265.1
Seriously, I wondered why are the people paying so much money to the tune of 1-2million/minister when they can’t even offer proper solutions. Oh. By the way, make a guess who took this picture. It was taken by a stomp reader. This plus last Sunday news paper where a journalist “manage” to sneak a exclusive peek into the shady world of Geylang makes me wonder… Are normal citizen better than the police in finding crooks? Maybe that is the reason why we can’t find Mas Selamat after so long.
Anyway, was wanting to post this up yesterday. Felt I just saw crap plastered all over ST yesterday. Anyway, for those who have read yesterday paper, it was on the front page on how our still can’t catch Mas Selamat Minister saying on loanshark and those chronic gambler who borrow from it.
Loanshark cases up
Seriously, I think the people are tired of minister sprouting nonsense here. Seems like the minister are trying to outdo each other, Health Minister with his “please send your useless elderly to JB” gaffe, Lui Tuck Yew and his “ internet is not an effective self regulated regime” gaffe and now, we have our high and mighty Mr. Wong saying we should catch those idiots who borrow from loansharks gaffe. I wonder what is the flavor next month? Maybe like half way through the year I’ll come up with a post on the darnest things our highly talented ministers said so we can better emulate them. Anyway, sorry for digressing. :)
Said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng yesterday: 'This will hold borrowers accountable if their reckless borrowing or gambling habits endanger the safety and security of the community.'
I was speechless when I read this. Can he work some brain? Supply and demand my friend! If there is no one wanting to borrow money, you think the loanshark will stuff cash into you to ask you borrow from them? But I believe my highly talented minister see it from a different angle. This is what I think:
Our dear minister is sick of lesser mortal using the police to guard them against the loanshark. His message for lesser mortal like us is:”Please don’t disturb me with your problems. The government is not interested in solving it for you. We are a meritocratic society, if you have the talent, you solve the problem without the government help. If you can’t, it means you’re just lazy. GET OUT OF MY ELITE UNCARING FACE!”
He is so so sick of having his police force entertaining 4,000 police call regarding loanshark activities. Making so much loanshark call. How to properly go and catch that Mas “Houdini” Selamat?
So, realising that it’s always the borrower that calls the police for help… Highly talented minister got an idea. If I prevent the borrower from calling the police, I’ll cut police call by 4,000. Therefore, the solution was to penalise the borrower when they report to police. After a few public cases, borrowers will wisen up and not bugger the police anymore. Ta-da! Problem solved!
He can’t really be bothered if the borrower are protected. As long the loanshark don’t harass the government, all is peace. 井水不犯河水。 Afterall, his pay is pegged to the highest earner, not the lowest earner. Why content and bother with people who don’t determine how much he’ll get? Lesser mortal can only blame them self for not working/retrain hard enough and being such a lazy bum. The government is right not to provide welfare. Bloody lazy blood sucking lesser mortals!
Ok. Puns aside. The triad are doing their age old job. Providing services where the government fails to provide. If the people are being looked after by the government and is contented with what they have, you think who will still go and look for loanshark? And not all borrowers are gambling addicts. What a degrading stereotypical comments from the thou-holier-than-God men-in-white. To quote from the movie V for Vendetta:
How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.
paying peanuts to keep monkeys!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27265.1
Friday, April 17, 2009
Loansharking : PAP govt's brilliant solution
Loansharking : PAP govt's brilliant solution
Times are bad and the number of loanshark harassment cases has climbed sharply. Police had to deal a total of 4000 cases in the first 3 months of this year. But don't worry our Home Affairs Minister has come up with a brilliant solution to reduce the number of cases our police have to handle:
"The ministry will also consider making borrowing from loansharks an offence."
- DPM Wong Kan Seng.[Link]
.
"This would be good news for us. If the police arrest those who borrow, they won't dare to report us when we harass them," - Loanshark who welcomes the move[Link]
,
If you still don't understand how brilliant this solution is, let me explain. The police has to handle so many cases of loansharking because the victims go to the police for help. By criminalising borrowing from loansharks, the victims of loanshark harassment now cannot go to the police for help because they themselves will be arrested for borrowing from the loansharks. The police will see a sharp drop in the number of cases and the govt can say the problem is solved! Briliant! Bravo! Now victims of loansharks have to suffer quietly. This will free up vast amounts of resources - there will be more police to handle those pesky opposition members and peaceful protestors who break our new our public order laws. I thought sending our old folks to JB was the best idea for the year -I was wrong.... this one is a lot more brilliant!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27190.1
Times are bad and the number of loanshark harassment cases has climbed sharply. Police had to deal a total of 4000 cases in the first 3 months of this year. But don't worry our Home Affairs Minister has come up with a brilliant solution to reduce the number of cases our police have to handle:
"The ministry will also consider making borrowing from loansharks an offence."
- DPM Wong Kan Seng.[Link]
.
"This would be good news for us. If the police arrest those who borrow, they won't dare to report us when we harass them," - Loanshark who welcomes the move[Link]
,
If you still don't understand how brilliant this solution is, let me explain. The police has to handle so many cases of loansharking because the victims go to the police for help. By criminalising borrowing from loansharks, the victims of loanshark harassment now cannot go to the police for help because they themselves will be arrested for borrowing from the loansharks. The police will see a sharp drop in the number of cases and the govt can say the problem is solved! Briliant! Bravo! Now victims of loansharks have to suffer quietly. This will free up vast amounts of resources - there will be more police to handle those pesky opposition members and peaceful protestors who break our new our public order laws. I thought sending our old folks to JB was the best idea for the year -I was wrong.... this one is a lot more brilliant!
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27190.1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)