Malaysian Couple Publicly Cuts Ties With Son Working In Singapore After Spending Over S$31,000 Settling Gambling Debts
A Malaysian couple has publicly severed ties with their 26-year-old son after spending more than RM100,000 (approximately S$31,600) over the past eight years to clear his gambling-related debts.
The parents, from Muar in Johor, said they had reached their breaking point after discovering their son had once again accumulated debts despite moving to Singapore for work several years ago.
At a press conference held on Jun. 15, the couple announced that they would no longer take responsibility for any future financial obligations incurred by their only son.
To formalise their decision, they also lodged a police report and stated that any debts accumulated by him from this point onwards would have no connection to the family.
Parents Thought Their Son Had Turned Over A New Leaf
According to the father, a food stall owner, his son first developed a gambling habit at the age of 18 or 19.
Over the years, the family repeatedly stepped in to settle his debts, hoping each intervention would mark a fresh start.
About three years ago, their son relocated to Singapore for employment, leading the family to believe he had left his gambling addiction behind.
However, their hopes were shattered last week after multiple family members began receiving debt collection calls.
The father revealed that he, his wife and their two daughters were contacted by seven separate loan shark syndicates, only then realising that their son had relapsed into gambling and borrowing money again.
Family Exhausted Their Savings To Repay Debts
The father also shared that his food business has been struggling in recent years, making it increasingly difficult to support the family financially.
Despite their own challenges, the couple used the remainder of their life savings to settle approximately RM30,000 (around S$9,500) of their son’s latest debts.
The outstanding balance is reportedly being repaid through instalment arrangements negotiated with the lenders.
He admitted that the number of times they had bailed out their son, as well as the total amount repaid over the years, had become impossible to keep track of.
The couple stressed that this latest repayment would be the final time they would intervene.
Public Warning Over Gambling And Loan Shark Activities
During the press conference, Tan Thiam Soon, special assistant to Bakri Member of Parliament Tan Hong Pin, urged young people to stay away from illegal gambling and loan shark activities.
He warned that the consequences often extend beyond the individual involved, placing enormous emotional and financial pressure on entire families.
The case also highlights a growing concern across the region, where online gambling platforms and illegal lenders continue to trap vulnerable individuals in cycles of debt.
For the couple, the decision to cut ties was not made lightly, but they said they had no choice after years of repeated disappointments and mounting financial burdens.
Their message was clear: family support has its limits, especially when repeated efforts to help fail to bring about lasting change.