If Kuala Lumpur is the flood capital, Johor should be given an equal status too – the crime land.
But, what truly amuse this blogger is how ironic the real situation is in Johor.
On one hand, we’re showing off the RM382 billion Iskandar Development Region (IDR), putting in extra effort to convince worldwide investors that the new development is the ideal place to invest. Sounds great, no better place than the piece of land in Johor, right at the bottom of West Malaysia.
On the other hand, the reality kicks in. While we’re boasting the investment opportunity, one can find endless types of crime cases in Johor, namely from kidnapping and rape cases (a woman gang-raped and robbed last month, one involving a 19-year-old girl on June 12 and the other involving a 35-year-old woman the next day).
Subsequently, an anti-crime demonstration was held outside the Johor MB Abdul Ghani Othman’s official residence to express dissatisfaction over the rising crime rate. Two protesters were detained for investigations.
While MCA dismissed of the allegation of its members taking part in the protest, the MB advised those behind the illegal assembly "not to play with fire" because it could get out of control.
Malaysiakini reported Penang DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yew as saying that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should step down from the internal ministry minister post and gets someone else to become a full time minister in that portfolio.
"He is too busy. He holds too many ministerial portfolios and chairmanship of various cabinet committees that he could possibly handle," he added.
Meanwhile, 10 years after the crime slur from Singapore’s Mentor Minister Lee Kuan Yew who described Johor as a crime-ridden place, it’s unfortunate that not only Johor isn’t moving forward to become a safer state, it’s getting worse and the crime rate is notoriously bad now.
"Like it or not, investors will not put money into the project if they do not feel safe. That is a fact," The Star’s EIC Wong Chun Wai said in his Sunday column.
Unfortunately, things changed, but we do not change and this country is not going to change too.
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One thing for sure our government will never accept the facts and reality. And the crimes rate will never be reduced.
they are sending extra 400 police to JB now….what about other states la?also need to demo?
BN’s modus operandus is to deny and bury their heads in the sand while their hands hands are free to stash all the cash in overseas bank, while the poor rakyat is left to defend for themselves.
Sorry, correction. The rakyat are not allowed to defend themselves….the police will throw those figthing for their survival in jail…citing "playing with fire".
Malaysia really "Boleh"?!
Yes, exactly a cowboy town.
You do not know how many of my friends and I actually feel relieved NOT to be staying in Johor Baru.
I felt the same irony as you too.
Not safe, how to expect foreign investors to come in? Make sure the ’rakyat’ is safe first, then only open doors to visitors!!!
I just read about the Johore news from South China Morning Post – a local Hong Kong English newspaper here. Apparently the news already spread everywhere outside of Malaysia, I wonder would the government really feel ashame or just being don’t care on how foreign country look at them
Crime everywhere. When someone published crime rate, the top management will ‘bantai’ that guy. And U will see arguiment in newspaper. Not to resolve the problem but to accused and deny the data.
Embarassing….
Wait and see…as with all the other hair-brained ideas from the PM (note that they are all HIS ideas and no one else’s) the Bandar Iskandar "vision" is headed for failure, in fact doomed from the very moment it was announced. Even I as a Malaysian will not spend/invest my money in JB.
remember what harry lee said in an affadavit about johor bahru and he was asked to apologise? he spoke about a place where crime was rampant and about carjackers. man, he was telling the truth and the umno and police could not accept the truth!
the crime was to protest the increasing violent crimes in JB. and therefore the protestors were arrested. vow, the MB even warned that the protestors should not play with fire by protesting! goodness, he would be playing with fire by ignoring the people’s welfare and security.
just to let you know that theres a bunch of really hardworking traffic police. you see them at work catching speedsters in Bukit Kiara almost every other week. hi, thats a 6 lane carriageway with speed limit of 80km and they time you at a real strategic point ( as the car comes down a slope). wonder how many were caught for speeding. well, you break the law and you pay for it. but then, why do you need a team of traffic policemen flagging down speedsters? surely, they can be utilised for a more productive purpose by turning into crime busters, rite?
I am sure things change in Malaysia. The thing is whether it is for better or for worse. Of course it depends on who you are affiliated to or where you are.
Most Malaysian crimes are committed or caused by Malaysians. Police more often are not straight forward in the cause of doing their jobs.
A lot of innocent people have been accused and unlawfully detained of what they dont know about by the police. I really pity some foreigners who fall victim of this injustice. Example is recent unlawful accusation of 2 africans and arrest of 2 indonesia women of murder of 2 chinese women. Sounds funny, cos accused were indoor allthrough with their partners from indonesia. Common sense… how can a man keep woman at home and go to rape another woman somewhere else and the same time comit murder. Or let’s see it this way… why cant they run away after commiting the murder? Incredible… I think that crime was committed by malaysians not foreigners. Police should sit up and should not discourage tourist from entering here. If police and phorensic are not capable, then more psychic would be employed to assist them. The whole world knows malaysia as another rape and murder zone. I felt like asking God "Are You still watching us"? on the murder of eight-year-old innocent Nurin.