Johor Bahru's Escalating Crimes (25/8/2006)

Can the residents enjoy better days ahead with the recent operation by over 200 personnel from the CID, Narcotics, traffic & FRU to address Johor Bahru's escalating crimes? The MB of Johor has earmark RM7 million under the South Johor Economic Region on better surveillance system to curb snatch thefts and robberies. In spite of all the hypes, a coffeshop in the nearby surburb was robbed in the wee morning by its customers.

1. Massive Ops By Johor Cops - The Star @ 25/8/2006

An area spanning 4 sq km was cordoned off at 2 am where over 100 people from the Kampung Melayu Pandan had their identification documents screened in an 8-hours operation by more than 200 personnel from CID, narcotics, traffic and FRU. Several "pocket operations" were also carried out simultaneously.

# Finally, the authorities recognise the severity of the problem in this "Cowboy" city. I hope operation of such will not end just like that on the pretext of "the rakyat complaining of inconveniences" as these could be carried out at late evening or during dawn where interruptions are kept to the minimal and when criminal activities are striving. #

2. RM7 million Plan To Make Sure Crime Does Not Pay - NST @ 25/8/2006

To curb snatch theft and robberies, the Menteri Besar of Johor is allocating RM7 million under the Southern Johor Economic Region on better surveillance system as well as to give a positive impact on crime prevention and improve traffic control in the Johor Bahru city.

3. Family Outing That Wasn't - The Star @ 25/8/2006

5 men brought their wives and children, altogether 13 of them for morning meal at 4 am in a coffeeshop at Taman Johor Jaya. After the women and children left, the men created a scene threatening the owner with a meat cleaver and robbed him of more than RM2,000, beer and cigarettes. The images of 2 of these robbers were captured by the CCTV of a neighbouring shop.

# Like-father-like-son! How do you expect the children not to end up as robbers one day if they continued to be brought up under this kind of environment. That's the root of the kind of social problems we are facing now. #

Johor Bahru's Escalating Crimes (24/8/2006)

Years ago, the whole nation protested furiously over the infamous labelling of Johor Bahru as a 'Cowboy Town' by the then Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. Over the years, the state of security in this city has not improved but in fact has deteriorated to a stage so alarming that the authorities are already at their wits-end in handling this ever-escalating problems. While the well-to-do could move their residences across the straits, we the ordinary folks are left to fend for ourselves. The reports below are compiled from the local dailies highlighting the plights currently encountered by the residents here.

1. Burglars Trapped In House By Neighbours - NST @ 24/8/2006

2 burglars were apparently trapped for 5 hours in a house somewhere in Taman Mutiara Rini, Skudai. Their attempt to burglar a house was somehow foiled by an alert neighbour, Masom Marji who heard noises from this house whom he knew the owner was not at home. He activated the alarm of his own house which attracted the attention of the residents in the neighbourhood. The residents surrounded the house to prevent the burglars from making an escape while waiting for the police and the house's owner to arrive. The apprehended burglars were in fact a 17-years old college student while the other, aged 23 is working in Singapore.

# How I wish I could publish the picture of this Masom Marji who should be congratulated for his heroic action. And of course, kudos to the local residents too for setting a very good example for the rest of us in ensuring a better living environment. These burglars, I'm sure had their prayers answered for leaving the place in one piece. They are unfortunately fortunate enough to be spared the beatings by the angry residents who at least exercise their restraints in dealing with the menacing burglaries that have been so common lately. This was not the case several months ago which I personally witnessed in a nearby Taman Pulai Utama where the burglars were 'wacked' by the mobbing residents in a similar foiled attempt. #

2. Pelajar Trauma - Metro Harian @ 24/8/2006

A 16-years old female student of a secondary school in Pasir Gudang was so badly slapped, punched in the face and knocked on the chest by her fellow schoolmate (also a female) that she was unable to walk or sit. Relating the incident that happened on 14/8/2006 at about 11.10 am, she was knocked unconscious as soon as she returned to her classroom from recess.

# A replication of school violence as reported in the Miri-based school not too long ago? Too bad, there wasn't any video footage of the assault #

3. Rela To Fight Snatch Thieves - The Star @ 24/8/2006

Homes Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said "the Government was considering training People's Volunteer Corps members to help police tackle the escalating number of snatch thefts, which have led to the loss of lives and serious injuries. We will be trying it out first in a few places deemed as hotspots. Later, we will come up with a training module suitable with the function of Rela". He further mentioned that this has been in practice for areas such as Cheras, Bandar Tun Razak, Taman Bunga Raya (Setapak) and Setiawangsa which had recorded the highest number of snatch thefts in the Klang Valley.

# If this measure really work in those areas mentioned, please by all means extend to Johor Bahru quickly. I'm sure the problem here is one of the top hotspots in the whole of Malaysia # 

Johor Bahru's Escalating Crimes (23/8/2006)

Years back, the whole nation protested furiously over the infamous labelling of Johor Bahru as a 'Cowboy Town' by the then Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. Over the years, incidences of crime in the Johor Bahru city have been notoriously on the rise. The well-to-do prefers to make Singapore their place of residence but to us, the ordinary folks, what can we do as it seems that the police forces are already at their wits-end on how to deal with the escalating problems. This is a compilation of incidences reported in the local dailies which are just the tips of the iceberg. What about those unreported cases??

1. Clerk Paralysed In Snatch Theft Attack - The Star @ 23/8/2006



This poor girl was a victim of snatch thieves, dragged for about 5 metres when she clunged onto her handbag which was the target. The incident occured as she arrived at her workplace at 8.15 am (broad daylight!) at Taman Mount Austin (an established housing estate with industrial park - I'm surprised there isn't a single soul who heard her screaming, maybe they all scrambled into hiding!). As a result, she was paralysed from waist down.

#We have been advised to avoid resisting when confronted by snatch thieves. However in most instances when things are suddenly taken away from us, our spontaneous reaction is to tighten our grip instead of letting go. So how are we to avoid injury when under such circumstances?#

In an unrelated event, a guy and his father confronted a man believed to be responsible for robbing his cousin as the latter was walking from a bus stop to her home in Taman Puteri Wangsa at about 7.30 pm. Instead of apprehending the suspect, this guy was unfortunately slashed across the chest during the chase.

# A classic case of taking justice into own hand which however went awry. These guys certainly don't believe in the police force, isn't it? #

2. Gang In Kenari On Robbery Spree - The Star @ 23/8/2006



It was reported that this gang, known for using Kenari as mode of transport in their modus operandi struck twice in a span of 10 minutes in this infamous upmarket housing scheme, Taman Molek.

A housewife had her car's window smashed and handbag taken away from the passenger seat as she was about to leave her home at 7.05 am. Apparently she had locked herself in the car which was why these robbers broke the window.

10 minutes later, a Taiwanese woman who owns a tuition centre here lost her passport, mobile phone and some documents when her handbag was grabbed from her car as she was about to get into her vehicle.

# The housewife in the first case was lucky enough not to be slashed as the robbers were armed with parangs at that point of time. It seems that quite a number of snatch cases had apparently happened in the wee morning when the victims are not that alert. The moral of the story for both cases is also to avoid carrying handbag which might attract unwanted attention from these criminals#

3. Adolescent Thieves A Menace : Schoolboys Team Up With Youth To Burglarise Homes - NST @ 23/8/2006

Wow! 3 secondary school boys, aged 14 to 15 and another 21-years old accomplice were caught committing at least 11 burglaries in Masai (somewhere near to our Pasir Gudang port) using high-powered walkie-talkies over the past 3 months. They had used pepper spray on their victims and travelled in a Proton Satria to look out for their targets.

#Indeed a disturbing trend among our youngsters#

4. Penternak Dakwa 6 Lembu Disembelih, Dijual - Berita Harian @ 23/8/2006

This is interesting! A cow rearer found 6 of his cows were missing from his farm in Lima Kedai, Gelang Patah. From remains of the slayed cows, he managed to trace to the head of one of his cows lying at a stall in the Tampoi's market (How he recognised it? All cows look the same to me). 5 suspects were detained in association to this case.

#I supposed the police can never solve this case as I believe they do not possess record of cows in their database. What about DNA identification on cows?#

5. Hiding Your Laptop No Longer Safe - NST @ 23/8/2006

This piece of news is alarming but not sure whether had happened in Johor Bahru before. The police department announced that even if you hide your laptop in trunks or under the car seats, thieves are still able to pinpoint them using a special gadget. The problem is the "police have not been able to get hold of the gadget yet"

#I thought the police force is equipped with the top brains and the best available technology? This is indeed dissapointing!#

A Video Of Images Of A Girl Over A Period Of 3 Years

Me: Girl takes pic of herself every day for three years

This is definitely one of the better videos I have seen so far which has been painstakingly done with lots of care and creativity. Bravo to those involved in the production.

1st World Aspirant, 3rd World Mentality - Edition 3

Literally littering

Rubbish is literally dumped indiscrimately by the residents somewhere in Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru despite a signage being erected forbidding littering which comes with a heavy fine. Well, it looks like nobody is heeding the rule.

Who are to be blamed? The residents argued that the authorities have not been doing their jobs to regularly provide trucks to collect the rubbish from their homes and business premises. Many complained that the uncollected rubbish was left for days inviting flies and fouled the environment. Have you ever witness when the trucks squeeze out the 'juices' from the rubbish right in front of your premise? I recalled an old auntie who was my ex-neighbour resorting to bribing the rubbish collectors to prevent them from doing so in front of her home. Wow, another form of 'blackmailing' which may bring lucrative side income to these workers.

Is this the way to repay the God of Earth?

Most Chinese especially those who practise Taoism worship the God of Earth at home for protection of their family's well beings. The altars are placed on the ground at strategic locations in the house or business premise. The problem starts when the occupants move out leaving the abondoned altars behind. More often that not, these altars are removed or replaced when there is a change of occupants under a fresh tenancy. So, where do the unwanted altars go to? Well, I have seen many placed at the foot of trees along roads especially those in more secluded areas in various housing estates.

Frankly, I have no inkling of the proper way of disposing off these altars in accordance with the Taoism teaching but I think leaving them by the roadside under the trees is equivalent to abandoning the god when they are of no use, isn't it? Not only it is unsightly to do so, residents not limiting to our own race may be offended if these altars are left near to their homes. I'm sure there are certain practices which shall be observed on how these altars should be dealt with in cases of relocations which is not only environmentally-friendly but also respectful to the religion.

By the way, have you also notice that many altars especially those made of stainless steel are disappearing from the roadside? If you still haven't got a clue, please read on!

Iron stripper

During the days of escalating steel prices, anything having to do with metal, aluminium, stainless steel and copper are hot items inviting unwanted attention from iron strippers. Unoccupied buildings whether small or large are falling victims to these irresponsible groups who rip offs anything and everything that can be sold to scrap dealers.

Drain covers, mail box covers, doors to the rubbish compartments, frames to the aluminium window and sliding doors, eletrical cables, door/house gates, window grills and chain-linked fencing are stripped off from these vacant houses. Abandoned housing projects which would not be rehabilitated or left incomplete by failing developers, vacant houses neglected by the owners due to lack of tenants, houses subject to auctions by banks are easy preys and also becoming haunts of drug addicts and illegal immigrants, which is a nuisance and potential hazard to the safety of the residents nearby.

Failed shopping centre which were left uncompleted due to the lack of funds are also suffering the same fate such as this Kemayan City, a huge retail complex located along the way leading to the JB city as you drive from the north. Not only scavenges are hoping to make some small bucks, unpaid contractors are also trying to salvage their losses by retrieving back their goods which they had installed previously. See, even the wall tiles were ripped off from the facade of the building leaving the ugly 'scars' all over. Beside being an eye-soar, falling debris from the building also pose a danger to the passerby.

 

Suicide? Give it a thought! It's not that bad after all.

Malaysian were disheartened when greeted with news of 2 suicide cases in the Saturday papers with headlines, Burning Love Ends In Death and Audit Chief Dies In Fall From Office Building which happened in Johor Bahru and Putrajaya respectively as appeared on page 12 of The Star.

In the Johor Bahru's case, a 50 year-old man burnt himself to death by setting fire to a woman's car with him in the driver seat when the woman did not return his affection while the head of internal audit of the National Resources and Environment Ministry fell to his death from his 14th floor office building in Putrajaya. Work stress was quoted by the deceased's family as probable cause of the incident. Whatever reason it may be, it is indeed sad that one has to resort to this to end his misery.

Coincidently, this email reached me which I would like to share with you guys. Scroll down the images slowly and hope that you get the message that life isn't that bad after all.

As I jumped off the building,

Amusing China's "Engrish"

Amusing, isn't it? Just got them from an email. In fact, I found more of these from my last visits to Quilin and Yunnan. But too bad, didn't thought of capturing these images. Must make sure I do so during the coming trip to Eastern China.

1st World Aspirant, 3rd World Mentality - Edition 2

Legitimate Road-Hogger?

More often than not, excavators are the culprits for hogging the traffic during peak-hours resulting in beeline of vehicles behind them. Impatient drivers of these vehicles overtake precariously which could endanger the lives of other road users. Although excavators' owner pay road taxes too, shouldn't the authorities (JPJ) look into measures requiring excavators travelling on busy roads at certain hours only so as to ease congestion?

Whose is responsible to clear this mess?

This distasteful sight has been greeting me for months whenever I'm on the way to work every morning and it is just one of the many found at road dividers on major streets leading to the JB city. The displaced bunting at the bottom was continuously ignored despite that the one at the top has been replaced a couple of times.

Exactly who is responsible to clear this mess? Workers supposedly engaged by contractors commissioned by the local authorities (MPJBT) were seen clearing rubbish nearby but clearly, none of them are interested to address this matter. Is the supplier who install the lower bunting responsible for it? As far as I know, fees were paid to the MPJBT for permits to install these buntings. Then, shouldn't the responsibility to clear the mess lie with MPJBT when the permits expire?

Blatant defiance of law

This is a familiar sight almost every morning along Jalan Skudai somewhere at Tampoi when you are on the way to the JB city during peak-hours. Bus drivers are the main culprit, owing to the size of their vehicles are so commonly seen jumping queues without hesitation and are also leading the pack of other smaller vehicles.

Miss France Head-Butting Miss Italy at Miss Universe Event

Miss France Head-Butting Miss Italy?



What, another head-butting on international arena? Zidane of France head-butted Italy's Materazzi in World Cup in June. At the recent Miss Universe event, Ms France did the same to Ms Italy. Be careful, you could be the next victim. A 'gift' from your rival?

Quick Fix To Your Translation Problem In Bahasa Malayisa

I stumbled for a moment wondering how should I begin writing a formal correspondence in Bahasa Malaysia (BM). For a while, I was pondering whether all those years spent in the national schools since primary one has been effective so far, more so if you are in the private sector when dealing in BM is minimal. By chance, I came across this webpage on Linguaweb which provides text translation from English to BM. Pretty simple and fast, the webpage allows up to 200 words per translation and most important, it is free at least for the moment since I noted Linguaweb is apparently a trial version. There is this Linguamobile which you could sms for RM0.50 for translation up to 160 words from English to BM too. Why not try it out yourself!