“Along with this I’ve car loan, saving money for car insurance that need to renew by end of June, PTPTN, and other living expenses in KL.”
A Malaysian working in KL has sparked a heated discussion online after sharing a hefty financial request from her mother.
In a post on Reddit, the individual revealed that her mother — whom she is not particularly close to after moving away seven years ago — has been asking for her payslip over the past two weeks to purchase the family’s first house back in their hometown.
While the mother reassured them that everything was “under control” and that savings from the Employees Provident Fund would be used for the downpayment, the request left the poster uneasy.
“She keeps reassuring me like “don’t worry, we’ll use EPF for downpayment, everything under control,” but I don’t know, something feels risky.
“Thing is, I’ve got about RM3,350 in credit card debt right now (paying it off monthly) because I invested in a certification to upskill myself.
“Along with this I’ve car loan, saving money for car insurance that need to renew by end of June, PTPTN, and other living expenses in KL.”
“I’m not exactly in the safest position to take on extra financial risk,” they wrote.
They added that if their name were to be involved in the loan, they would only feel secure if their parents could set aside RM5,000 to RM8,000 as a financial buffer — something they fear might not be well received.
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The post quickly drew attention, with many Malaysians cautioning against getting involved in family loans without clear safeguards.
“Don’t do it. Especially if you’re already doubting,” one user warned, sharing how a relative ended up living paycheck to paycheck after agreeing to a similar arrangement.
Another commenter urged the poster to ask tough questions about repayment plans, timelines, and worst-case scenarios — adding that many such arrangements fall apart due to lack of proper planning.
Some also pointed out that owning a house comes with additional costs beyond the loan itself, including maintenance, taxes, and utilities — expenses that could ultimately fall back on the person whose name is tied to the loan.
