islandhippy

Last week Sandy's sister Ngae lost her handbag to a motorcycle snatch thief in KL. She was with friends, about to get into her car in Pudu, when a Malay guy on a motorbike drove up, snatched her bag and sped off. The bag's strap broke and Ngae took a tumble after trying in vain to give chase. Ngae's mobile was in her handbag so half an hour later she used a friend's phone to call her number. The thief picked up and said hello! He'd already returned home and there was a baby crying in the background. This being Malaysia the thief offered to return Ngae's credit cards and identity card ... he may be a thief but even he knows what a pain in the butt it is to renew your identity card in Malaysia! ... so he drove to a nearby petrol station, called Ngae on her friend's phone and told her which petrol kiosk to look for. Ten minutes later Ngae had her identity card and credit cards back.

This happens so often in Malaysia that in Ngae's employment contract there's even a clause which gives victims of snatch theft two days emergency leave! Unbelievable. When Ngae finally made it back to work she found out her colleague's bag had also been snatched and worse, her face slashed.

Ngae did make a police report but there wasn't much point doing so. At least she didn't have to offer sexual favours. Another friend went to the police in KL to report a stolen bag and was told by the policeman that if she "had dinner" with him, he would help her. She declined the invitation.

Snatch theft happens on a daily basis in Malaysia. I've seen it happen twice, right in front of me. Last week a pregnant woman was killed in Malaysia when snatch thieves took her bag while she was riding her motorbike. She fell off and was run over by a car. A month earlier another pregnant woman was killed in exactly the same fashion.

Malaysia boleh? Yeah, right.