I am just back from visiting a friend in hospital in Penang today – a snatch theft victim.
She was walking home to her flat after work at 7.30pm a couple of nights ago when someone on a motobike sped up and suddenly tugged at her handbag slung over her shoulder. It didn’t come off easily and she lost her balance, fell to the ground and was dragged on the rough tar road for a bit (ouch!).
She won’t be able to walk for a week (but thank God, no fractures or concussion).
This is not improving my perception of the crime rate – and it’s going to get worse with the economy sliding downhill next year.
Meanwhile, Paula Khoo, the singer-guitarist-emcee who was arrested at a Penang Abolish ISA vigil a few weeks ago, continues to face uncertainty.
She found out on 28 November when she reported back to the police that her police bail had been extended by two months. She has to return to the police station on 28 January, the third day of the Lunar New Year.
In another development, Jerit coordinator Kohila sent an email alert, describing the situation this afternoon in Penang:
… the bus carrying (Jerit cycling team) participants to the place they were going to stay was stopped and police demanded the names and IC number of the cyclists. The organisers demanded why they had to give the details; the police had no concrete reasons. So the organisers refused to give the details but only gave details of themselves. There was a half-hour standoff in the middle of the road near Balik Pulau. Practically the bus was (held up) in the middle of the road.
(Are) the police too busy doing BN-UMNO’s dirty work to pay attention to “petty crimes”?
The solution, according to the annointed PM-in-waiting, is that we all need to change our perception of crime. Just feel safe, you will be alright…..
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Those mata-mata think they get their pay rise to do UMNO’s … job, not it’s the rakyat’s tax money, our money damnit!
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With a new state administration voted in, it is perhaps no surprise the good people of Penang are under constant siege, harass by sinister forces. Believe me,’they’ will try all sorts to make life difficult – inflame sentiments, stir up communial issues or worse – but all Penangnite’s need to be vigilant, exercise discretion and have the patience of a Saint to overcome these irritants and their childish games.
Sad to hear about the unfortunate encounter but all things considered, your friend got off lightly when many others paid more dearly. High time for a more concerted push to place camera’s at strategic or busy locales. I don’t think rate payers would have any complains.
G’weekend all.
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We now know that Mahathir appoints only … to head the PDRM – look at Rahim Noor & Musa Hassan. Why? These Executive … can then do his dirty work & intimidate his detractors. Why didn’t Badawi replace Musa Hassan when he came in? Obviously, Musa controls the SB and they have dossiers on ALL the politicians – not only Opposition leaders but the BN chaps as well. In other words, the PDRM calls the shots in many instances …
In effect, why are we surprised that crime rules in Malaysia? So do VVVVVVIP criminals!
As for Paula’s bail extension – that’s how she’s being punished by PDRM for being a decent, outspoken citizen instead of some cringing, hypocritical coward. No fine, no jail term, just a bit of mental torture! Evil? You bet.
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Don’t sing. Next time, bring the beat box out and put on Mel Brook’s To be or not to be (The Hitler rap).
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Regarding Paula Khoo’s extension of bail, I really don’t think we can accept this harassment by the police lying down. This country is now entering into a true definition of a police state, and it’s time we take countermeasures in the form of mass demonstrations, publicizing her case internationally, and getting Pakatan to speak up everyday until the harassment stops.
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huh……sad
http://hikayatmamakbendahara.blogspot.com/
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Why detain people like Paula Khoo when you have such a big Mat Rempit problem?
In KL, the Mat Rempit and road bullies are so common that people fear for their lifes. Mat Rempits just get down of the bikes and bash all your windscreens with their helmet.
Once, a guy bashed and shattered ALL my windscreens and lights in front of me. I was injured badly too as half my face was bleeding because of the driver’s side windows was smashed with such force that all the glass flew and cut my face.
When I reported the matter, the police was so cool about it and told me most unlikely can find the person involved. Though the place I got attacked had so many CCTV cameras.
Within one or two hours, the investigationg officer calls me and says, “Boleh close case tuan?”
If the Sultan of Selangor is reading this, well, now you know why Selangor and KL are so rampant in crime and your sincere calls for the reduction and prevention of crime will not happen.
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My brother was in ICU for a week when he was beaten up badly by “Mat Rempits” at SS2 2 weeks’ ago! At the same time, they had floored a couple on a motorbike passing by and robbed them. You hear similar stories all the time.
On a different issue, everyday, we would hear explosives coming from a mountain behind Tanjung Bunga. There is now an obvious unsightly wide patch on the side of the beautiful mountain (similar to the mountains in Ipoh as you pass by on the highway!).
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While the PM has gone on another overseas trip with his family on our expense and the DPM is too is out of sight, the police is having a field day playing politics instead of looking after public safety. And they want us to fool ourselves that crime rate in the country is lower than Australia? How long are we going to tolerate this nonsense?
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Hi Anil,
You have to be in the same neighborhood with Najib to be able to feel the same perception lah.
At the meantime, the rest of us have to be vigilant and do whatever is necessary to take care of our families safety loh. We have to be on guard all the time these days, be alert of your surroundings or setup our own housing areas own security personals. The housing area in Bandar Utama these days are doing that now. Each area(eg. BU1, BU2, BU3 etc) residents setup a fund where we pay twice yearly and setup security booth at main entry points and have security personals do frequent rounds around our areas. It works and the no of burglary and mugging have drastically reduced.
So, Najib can change all the perceptions he wants but the people must not change the reality of perceptions.
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crime is just a perception, so says the minister and IGP.
ask anyone and they or their friends are victims of snatch thieves. i have personally witnessed 4 such incidents and of which happened to my relative. she had a concussion and broken collar bone and was hospitalised. lucky, she came out well. the nurse told her to count her blessings coz she had known far worse injuries.
ya, Ministers and IGP, its a perception coz it will never happen to you all coz you are well protected now. hope after your retirement, you all will never suffer the same fate as the late ex-CPO that was murdered by robbers in his home in Jala Gasing.
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Dear Anil,
Thank you for highlighting the news about my bail extension. I am deeply traumatized and have yet to get a proper night’s sleep since Nov. 15th. My 25th wedding anniversary is coming up and also my birthday and in the light of this bail extension, I do not know how I can go through the next couple of weeks. I do not know what is real or unreal anymore.
While the 23 in PJ had their bail canceled and the other 9 as well, I have to dwell in uncertainty, fear, and like what my dear friend Antares has aptly stated – mental torture and the ordeal continues…
Why me? Is it because I am a woman? Was it my singing that pierced their ears or was it my guitar skills that irked them or voice or what? I honestly do not know.
Why me? Of the 100 odd people there, why was it ONLY ME who was escorted by six officers?
Why me? While others have been released, why was my bail extended for another two months until CNY? Now, I cannot celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary, my birthday, New Year and even Chinese New Year.
LChuah,
Thanks for your compassion. I am walking down this lonely road, quite alone safe for very small number of real friends. I really wish people would do what you suggested, LChuah. I really do. And I do dream of it. As it is, I am at their mercy and am pretty much alone.
Ganesh,
I am also asking the same question. And many other questions resonate through my brain, soul and spirit. And I cannot find the answers.
Is there justice?
Only God knows. Yet, in my turmoil, what else can I do but hope?
God bless you all during this Yuletide Christmas.
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