Mr Low's painful lesson to never be a guarantor for any friend who takes loan from money lender

KUCHING, Feb 9 2026: A certain Mr Low,  by now,  must have  learnt the most painful lesson to never again he would trust any friend, not with money, after what has happened to him - never stands as a guarantor anymore.

Caption: Mr Low talking to Michael Kong (right) over the loan that Mr Low's friend had taken from money lender  

 After his friend died,  Mr Low was even forced to pay the ballooning amount of over RM40, 000 well above the amount that his friend had failed to settle.

As a last resort, he sought help from the Sarawak DAP.

It started when his friend asked him to be a guarantor a few years ago.

He agreed to stand as a guarantor for a friend who had taken a loan from a money lender.

“At the beginning, he exercised caution by asking his friend to deposit the monthly repayments with him first, before he transferred the payments to the money lender.

“This was done to ensure that the loan obligations were properly met,” explained Michael Kong, who is a special assistant to Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, today.

Kong said after some time, Low’s friend suggested that he pay the money lender directly to “save the hassle”.

“Trusting his friend, Mr Low agreed,” he said.

“Tragically, the friend has since passed away. Just last week, Mr Low received a letter from the money lender demanding payment of an alleged outstanding sum of RM10,800.

“Wanting clarity, Mr Low visited the money lender’s office and was informed that no payments had ever been made by his friend, hence the outstanding amount,” Kong said.

He added not wanting any further trouble, Mr Low decided to accept the offer and asked for two weeks to settle the amount.

He said Mr Low was then asked to return the following day to sign an agreement to settle the alleged outstanding.

“However, when he returned, he was shocked to be presented with a demand exceeding RM40,000 to “fully settle” the matter.

“When he refused to sign, he was pressured repeatedly to do so. He only managed to leave the premises by giving the excuse that he needed to attend to his elderly mother.

“Disturbingly, even then, the money lender demanded a photograph and the NRIC details of his mother.

“Mr Low subsequently sought my assistance. After reviewing the matter and engaging directly with the money lender, they then agreed to settle the issue at the original amount of RM10,800, the sum initially demanded.

“Mr Low has also since then been able to raise the necessary funds from his family members in order to fully settle the outstanding,” Kong said.

He said this case serves as a serious warning to the public.

He added borrowing from money lenders, and especially agreeing to stand as a guarantor, can expose individuals to significant financial and emotional distress.

“What may begin as a small loan can quickly escalate through excessive charges, and aggressive pressure tactics,” he said, adding that guarantors, in particular, are often left bearing the full burden when borrowers are unable or no longer around to pay.

He urged the public to think carefully before turning to money lenders or agreeing to guarantee someone else’s loan, no matter how close the relationship may be.

“Always understand the risks involved, insist on transparency, and seek proper advice before signing any document,” he advised.

Almost 90,000 land transaction instruments, worth RN30.85 billion, registered last year

BINTULU, Feb 9 2026: Land and Survey Department’s registration of land transaction instruments continues to record excellence with the achievement of 100 per cent same day registration. 

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg launching the Land and Survey's Strategic Plan 2026-2030 at the opening of the department summit 2026 - Picture by Information Department

The department director Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood said a total of 89,933 instruments, worth RM30.85 billion, were registered last year.

“Of the total, 81,674 instruments or 90.8 per cent were successfully registered within the first four  hours from the time of submission,”  he said at the department’s summut which was officiated by Premier Abang Johari  Openg.

He said the charge of land transactions recorded the largest value of RM15.46 billion followed by transfer of land with a value of RM7.96 billion.

“From the 2025 transaction, stamp duty amounting to RM262.28 million was collected by the federal government,” he said.

Zamhari said that the state government, through the platform of the Malaysia Agreement Action Council 1963, continues to hold consultations with the federal government, regarding the ‘sharing’ of the stamp duty revenue on the basis that the land transaction is under the Sarawak Land Code.

He also said that the department’s the Title Registration System (TRS) recorded 980,827 lots throughout Sarawak with an area of 3.16 million hectares.

He said out of the total, 779,303 lots were titled land with an area of 2.45 million hectares, saying that  201,524 lots were government land with an area of 717,000 hectares.

He said under the New Initiative Programme for NCR Land Measurement since 2010 until 31, 2025, an area of 1.245 million hectares of NCR land has been measured perimeter-wise.

He added an area of 947,442 hectares of which has been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture) under section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code.

“Efforts to improve the measurement of individual lots continue to be strengthened by improving the technology and measurement methods used.

“Up to Dec 31, 2025. a total of 109,065 lots with an area of 129,797 hectares have been measured individually.

“Of this total, 35,873 lots with an area of 49,674 hectares were issued with title deeds under section 18 of the Sarawak Land Act,” Zamhari said,

 

Not true that the federal govt is unfair to Sarawak, Sabah in the distribution of funds for road projects, says Nanta

KUCHING, Feb 8 2026: Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi has dismissed allegations that the federal government is unfair to Sarawak and Sabah in the distribution of allocations for road infrastructure.

Caption: Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi picking a number in the Road Maintenance Work Bid Draw opening ceremony 

In his Facebook post, he said such allegations are completely inaccurate.

“In fact, under the federal government, the local small contractor empowerment programme G1 – G4 was introduced and continues to be strengthened through additional allocations every year by the federal government,” he said.

“This is an important step in the government's ongoing efforts under the Ministry of Works  to empower Bumiputera small contractors in classes G1 to G4.

“For the year 2026, the government has allocated RM200 million each for Sabah and Sarawak, which is a 300 per cent increase compared to the previous year (RM50 million) for the implementation of periodic maintenance works on paved and non-paved roads for both states.

“This allocation, which is specifically for Bumiputera small contractors G1-G4, involves 141 contractors in Sarawak while in Sabah there are 178 contractors,” Nanta said.

He said he has the opportunity to officiate the Sarawak Federal Road Maintenance Work Bid Draw Ceremony for 2026 in Kuching today.

He added a total of 385 qualified contractors participated in the draw process which was carried out transparently and fairly, covering pavement and non-pavement maintenance works including road safety and aesthetics.

“All works will be closely monitored by the Sarawak Public Works Department, in line with the principle of no compromise on quality, cost, completion period and safety under the MYJalan KKR aspiration,” he said.

Nanta said efforts such as this clearly demonstrate the concern of the federal government under the administration of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for the development of road infrastructure in Borneo. He expressed his grateful to the prime minister for his concern that always precedes the people.

“I would also like to remind the contractors to carry out the work diligently and not waste the efforts of this government,” he said, stating that his ministry will continue to be committed to ensuring integrity-based governance and that every allocation is channeled effectively for the safety, comfort and well-being of the people.

He said this is the commitment to achieving the aspirations of the federal government — quality, resilient and people-focused development.

Longhouse man dies in hit and run accident, wife suffers serious injuries

SRI AMAN, Feb 8 2026: A longhouse resident died while receiving treatment at the Sri Aman Hospital after the vehicle he and his wife were travelling in was hit and run accident by an unknown vehicle at kilometre 7, Jalan Sri Aman, early this morning.

Sri Aman District Police Chief Superintendent Dennis Bunyam, in a statement today, identified the deceased as Ranggau anak Berandak, 46, while his wife Chindu anak Malang, 36, suffered injuries and is being treated at the same hospital.

Both are from Rumah Eveylin, Ibol, Sungai Raya Undup.

Dennis said that initial investigations found that the victim was said to have finished changing the flat tyre of his vehicle on the shoulder of the road before being hit by another unidentified vehicle.

He called on the driver of the vehicle involved to come forward to assist in the investigation.

Members of the public who witnessed the incident or have any information are asked to contact any nearby Police Station or IPD Sri Aman at 083-322121 Extension 238.

The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.