A Johor delegation came to Singapore recently in an attempt to woo us Singaporeans back into JB and there have been articles about it over the past few days. There weren't any discounts promised, no freebies, only stark naked statistics (and the not so naked delegation) braving the wet weather crossing the Causeway here.
Come on guys, you sure you really understand your neighbour? We aren't the number one Kia consumers for nothing. Not Kia as in Kia cars but Kia as in kiasi, kiasu, kiabo etc. You come not with statistics of goodies to distribute but statistics of crime in JB to allay our fear, no true blue Singaporean will bother listening.
Assurances from the delegation that Singapore cars are not targeted by Johor Baru city council enforcement units? Of course not. The car thieves got to them first. Singaporeans are being singled out for 'harsh treatments' by the Malaysian Customs and Immigration authorities? That must be a joke. How could they possibly have enough time for this when they're busy with getting the Chinese to do some simple exercises in dingy little rooms?
I've to admit though, that I'm quite impressed with some of the statistics on crime shown. For example, according to them, the overall crime rate in Johor is 743 per 100,000 population, lower than Singapore's 826 per 100,000 population. In addition, only 18 Singaporeans were victims of snatch thefts last year.
Enlightening aren't it?
However, being impressed is one thing, getting conned is another. The crime rate of 743 per 100,000 population is for the entire Johor. Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman, however, did acknowledge that crime rate in certain parts of JB is actually 1,168 per 100,000 population. Those places I assume, are definitely not where the wild boars roam.
Only 18 Singaporeans were victims of snatch thefts? Does this figure even mean anything in the wider picture of the crime rate? Maybe the Johor delegation was trying to tell us something like this:
Robber: Give me your money or else!
Singaporean: Don't hurt me. I'm a Singaporean.
Robber: Really? Darnation! I've hit my quota for robbing Singaporeans. Count yourself lucky. Now I need to find me some locals.
Johor Tourism Committee Chairman, Freddie Long, also blamed the negative press in Singapore for the 'misplaced impression' that Johor is crime ridden. He even cited the recent examples of a Singaporean being attack with a parang in JB versus a girl being molested recently at Orchard Road.
'Are you telling me Orchard Road is not safe because of what the media has depicted?' he said.
Well, there're two issues at hand here. First, how can those two examples even be comparable? Obviously Mr Long here doesn't know how to distinguish between a chicken and a duck. True, both are birds, but they're different, like, like, like chicken and duck. Similarly, both examples cited are criminal acts, no doubts. Nevertheless, both are crimes of totally different nature. The attack in JB was one which may potentially result in a loss of life (but luckily in this case only a loss of good looks, unless several stitches on the scalp look attractive to you perverts) and the other which wouldn't.
Then there is again Singaporeans differing trust and perception of the law enforcement on this side of the Causeway and the other. It's not just about 'being misled' by the media on the integrity and trustworthiness of Malaysia's police (which even Uncle Abdullah admitted there's some spring cleaning to be done). It's also about personal experiences and encounters with the well greased hand or well greased hand wannabes.
So until the perceptions and experiences are changed, 'SAFE' shouldn't be the four letter words the delegation should be harping about. If they don't want to see the S$99 million loss (due to the dip in visitations by Singaporeans) again, my advice is to use these all time Singaporean favourite four letter words - 'FREE' and 'SALE'. I guarantee hoards of Singaporeans will sink the Causeway trying to get across to JB, come falling brimstones or high tide.