Singapore and Malaysia: polemics around crimes

14 Aug 2013  2035 | World Travel News

SINGAPORE- It sounds just like routine. Since the separation of Singapore from the Malaysian Federation back to 1965, tensions have regularly emerged between both countries on any topic, from land reclamation to the right or not for the air force to fly over their air space, from food poisoning to overzealous customs officers… But one subject that Singaporean newspapers cherish more than any other is criminality in Malaysia, especially when it targets cash-rich Singaporean travellers.
For years, Singaporean newspapers have lashed out Johor Bahru –the city across the Strait of Singapore- described as a cowboy town where it would be almost impossible to walk in the streets without being robbed or attacked! The reality is not that grim of course!
On July 31, an article from the Singapore newspaper New Paper about a wave of crimes in Malaysia filled up again tensions. The paper titled its article "Welcome to Malaysia, where it is easy to die and expensive to stay alive” to describe a series of crimes which targeted high-profile personalities. Attacks occur in daylight on busy streets and targeted the founder of bank group AMMB Holdings Hussein Ahmad Nazhadi as well as the chairman of NGO MyWatch R. Sri Sanjeevan.
Indignation grew when the author of the article indicated to have been able to hire a killer for 2000 dollars. In the Malaysian capital, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Anifah Hj. Aman immediatly expressed his concerns that the newspaper misled the reader and could inflict irremediable damage to Malaysia’s reputation as a destination. The paper apologizes, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs apologized and the New Paper withdrew its article from its website and listing.
Surprisingly, the Minister of tourism came up to defend the newspaper editorial. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri declared in the Malay Mail that "the recent spate of close range shootings in the streets may have negative consequences in the medium term. I am concerned that if this situation continues, it would adversely affect our tourism industry," The Malay Mail quoted the Minister. “I feel that this is a fair assessment of the situation. Criticism is not directed against us because Singapore is also selling tours to Johor at Legoland and Hello Kitty. They are just concerned about the situation as much as we are," added the Minister.
The Ministry would however actively promote the country by assuring tourists that the government had the situation under control. The Minister also indicated that the Immigration Department's recent move to shorten the visa on arrival period from 90 days to 14 days for certain nationalities was in the interest of national security.
For many years, Malaysia –and particularly large cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru or Penang, have seen an increase in petty crimes and also more violent acts. “More people refuse now to walk in streets at night, especially women”, tells a Malaysian native who now lives (and feels safer) in Bangkok. The malaise and feeling of unsafety is anything but a myth. A community website “Malaysian Crime Awareness Campaign” on facebook attracted already over 41,000 followers!
Statistics show indeed an increase in crime in the country. The government has been trying to curb violence by putting more police patrols or better lighting in the street but with little effect. According to Malaysian sources, during the first six months of 2013, 15,098 incidents of violent crime were recorded in Malaysia. Of this number, in 73 cases the use of firearms was reported. In June alone there were 17 such incidents, with most occurrences in Penang and Perak.
Even more embarrassing is the admission by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that they are probably some 260,000 hardcore criminals roaming Malaysian streets. Talking to the newspaper, Mingguan Malaysia, the Minister made a simple –if not simplistic-calculation based on police reports following the release of 2,600 former detainees released from Simpang Renggam detention centre. “Each has his hardcore followers. If each of the released detainees had 10 right-hand men, this translated to 26,000 who are with them. Then these right-hand men have their own set of right-hand men. Multiply this to the earlier 26,000 and you have 260,000,” the Minister told the paper. He then calls on the public to be fair to the police in their fight against hardcore criminals in Malaysia.
Polemics around numbers are not that important. More important is that both locals and visitors feel secured in the country before the perception that Malaysia is unsafe to visit threatens the lucrative tourism industry.

Sourced: TravelDaliyNews

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