Loan sharks are apparently using lion dance groups to harass debtors in Johor.
According to a report by The Straits Times, the Kulai Hua Yi Lion and Dragon Dance Association head, Lai En Liang shared that he received a booking to surprise a man for his birthday in Taman Johor Jaya on Sunday (April 6).
He was also asked to record the performance to receive payment from someone at the location.
“We often receive bookings for such surprise performances, so we accepted his request for a RM1,388 package. We travelled 39km from Kulai to the house for the supposed surprise performance, did our lion dance routine and shouted well wishes as instructed,”
“Then, a woman came out of the house looking shocked. She said no such person was staying there,” he said.
He then contacted the ‘client’ to request payment but the ‘client’ refused. The ‘client’ then asked if his group would be interested in future ‘jobs’ to ‘entertain’ other debtors for a fee of RM1,000.
They weren’t the only ones
Another group, Hok Quan Lion Dance Johor Bahru, had a similar experience on the very same day.
“Since it was a last-minute booking, I requested an RM300 deposit, which the caller paid online. He told us that the rest of the payment would be made by someone else at the location,”
“We reached the ‘birthday’ woman’s house with a team of 10 lion dancers and performed a 10-minute routine and shouted auspicious greetings despite the rain, but nobody came out,” shared the group’s team leader, Ng How Ching.
This image is for illustration purposes only.
However, an Indonesian woman later emerged from the house and claimed that the ‘birthday’ woman did not live there. She also called the police and a patrol car soon showed up.
After explaining things to the police, the group left the scene.
“Later, we returned to the house, hoping to receive the remaining payment as most of our performers were school students expecting their allowance for performing,”
“That’s when I noticed a funeral wreath at the front door with the woman’s name on it. I felt that we had been manipulated and duped into unsavoury activities,” he said.
Reports will be lodged
The Johor Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Youth Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Henry Mok has since vowed to assist both lion dance groups in lodging police reports to alert the authorities of this new tactic by loan sharks.
“Aside from these 2 troupes, another lion dance group was also duped using a similar method to harass debtors,”
“Johor MCA Youth strongly condemns this tactic. It is unacceptable to misuse a cultural art form that symbolises joy, celebration and goodwill,” he shared.
He also urges other lion dance groups to come forward, should they have experienced similar tactics.
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