Johor Lion Dance Troupes Tricked by Loan Sharks into Birthday Surprise Performance to Harass Debtors

Two lion dance troupes from Johor were tricked into performing at homes under the guise of delivering birthday surprises, only to find out they were being used by loan sharks to intimidate debtors.

Lai En Liang, head of the Kulai Hua Yi Lion and Dragon Dance Association, shared that he received a booking to surprise a man in Taman Johor Jaya for his birthday on April 6. The caller requested that the performance be recorded for payment purposes. Lai accepted the request for a RM1,388 package, as such surprise performances are common.

Image Credit: The Star

After traveling 39km from Kulai to the house, the troupe performed their lion dance routine and shouted well wishes. However, a woman emerged from the house, shocked, and claimed no such person lived there. When Lai contacted the caller for payment, the man refused and even offered future "jobs" to harass other debtors for a fee of RM1,000.

Similarly, Ng How Ching, leader of the Hok Quan Lion Dance Johor Baru team, recounted a last-minute booking on April 4 to surprise a woman in Taman Pelangi. Ng requested a RM300 deposit, which was paid online, with the rest of the payment to be made at the location.

Image Credit: The Star

Despite performing a 10-minute routine in the rain, no one came out. Later, an Indonesian woman emerged, stating no such person lived there, and called the police. After explaining the situation to the authorities, the troupe left.

Returning to the house for payment, Ng noticed a funeral wreath with the woman's name on it, realising they had been manipulated. Johor MCA Youth public services and complaints bureau chief Henry Mok organised a press conference on April 9, where he condemned the misuse of lion dance performances and urged other troupes to report similar scams to raise public awareness.

Featured Image Credit: The Star, Harian Metro