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#11
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Hi Alfred,
DO have a pleasant stay when you are here. "Alfred Molon" wrote in message ... Hi, we are flying to KL in December. My Malaysian wife who routinely reads the news in chinapress.com.my keeps telling me that the security situation in KL has worsened substantially over the last few years. Please have my 2cents worth, Chinese newspapers (particularly China Press) usually put crime stories prominently on its frontpage to attract readers. This can give a very inaccurate representation about the security situation in the country. But do not panic for now. Snatch thefs had been around for decades, my wife was a victim to these snatch thieves a decade ago. However, I would say that one has to have security-consciousness wherever you are (regardless of whether you are in Malaysia, US, or anywhere in the world). When I'm in KL I'm used to go to the Citibank branch in Jalan Ampang even late at night and get larger amounts of cash from the ATM. Now my wife insists that I stop doing that, because she read stories that people will wait near the ATM, then follow people who took larger amounts of cash to steal it from them. She also told me that if you stop with your car at the red traffic light, it can happen that somebody will open the car door, threaten you with a knife and steal your money. And so on. This has also been around for decades. This is not new. -Alex |
#12
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Nice to hear that Waseem,
Your suggestion to have his wife consult her 'relatives' back home may backfire though, as these 'relatives' may also be reading China Press and any other papers that choose to 'sensationalize' criminal issues on their frontpages, and subsequently give distorted advice/feedback. -Alex "Waseem S." wrote in message ... Visited Malaysia in July this year and spent about 5 days in KL. Never felt in danger. I too read those reports before I left and was wondering myself. You just need to use basic common sense when in any big city. Since your wife is Malaysian, she should talk to her relatives in KL so she can get some feedback. regards waseem |
#13
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Nice to hear that Waseem,
Your suggestion to have his wife consult her 'relatives' back home may backfire though, as these 'relatives' may also be reading China Press and any other papers that choose to 'sensationalize' criminal issues on their frontpages, and subsequently give distorted advice/feedback. -Alex "Waseem S." wrote in message ... Visited Malaysia in July this year and spent about 5 days in KL. Never felt in danger. I too read those reports before I left and was wondering myself. You just need to use basic common sense when in any big city. Since your wife is Malaysian, she should talk to her relatives in KL so she can get some feedback. regards waseem |
#14
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LOL @ Focus!
Come on... you are making him even scarier! g -Alex "Focus" wrote in message ... Play it safe or else get a bodyguard! Withdraw money in broad daylight and when there are plenty of people around and make sure no one is following you. If you get accosted, just give your money away. Which ATM are you going to :-)) |
#15
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LOL @ Focus!
Come on... you are making him even scarier! g -Alex "Focus" wrote in message ... Play it safe or else get a bodyguard! Withdraw money in broad daylight and when there are plenty of people around and make sure no one is following you. If you get accosted, just give your money away. Which ATM are you going to :-)) |
#16
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Alfred Molon wrote:
we are flying to KL in December. My Malaysian wife who routinely reads the news in chinapress.com.my keeps telling me that the security situation in KL has worsened substantially over the last few years. Far as I can tell, the only significant increase has heen in snatch thefts perpetrated by guys on mopeds who grab purses from women walking along the road. Recently one or two victims were dragged along and badly injured or killed, and it's gotten a lot of press. The only reason I think this is actually increased rather than just getting a lot of press is that the police seem to be responding to it a lot. The good news is that it's very easy to avoid. These guys ride around looking for loose bags being carried on the street side. When I'm in KL I'm used to go to the Citibank branch in Jalan Ampang even late at night and get larger amounts of cash from the ATM. Now my wife insists that I stop doing that, because she read stories that people will wait near the ATM, then follow people who took larger amounts of cash to steal it from them. Recently I posted a story (maybe in rec.travel.air) about how I withdrew about a thousand dollars (RM4000) from an ATM and then managed to spray it all over the floor, and people helped me pick it up. This happened at the Jalan Ampang Citibank, after dark. I was worried that some of it would go under the machines where it would be hard to retrieve, but I never for a moment worried about crime (other than perhaps a surreptitious pocketing of a note or two, which didn't happen). Also there are multiple security guards in there all the time. She also told me that if you stop with your car at the red traffic light, it can happen that somebody will open the car door, threaten you with a knife and steal your money. And so on. This not worth worrying about. This sort of famous crime happens maybe one time in every city and then people who are preoccupied with crime become convinced it happens at every red light. Though I haven't even heard of it happening here at all. All this makes me wonder if the security situation in KL has really deteriorated so much...? No, but the newspaper sensationalism situation has. Look, I wander around KL at all hours of the day and night. I always cut through alleys when it's the shortest way, even if it's 3 in the morning and there's no light. I sit out on a park bench on Jalan Sultan Ismail after midnight and access the internet with my laptop. And I am very obviously a foreigner. I sit in the same place around the same time with decent regularity, completely absorbed in what I'm doing, and anyone who was planning something has had ample opportunity. I have not seen or heard anything which has given me any reason to believe any of this is a bad idea - nothing that's happened to me, or to anyone I know or have read about. The one crime to be worried about in KL was, and continues to be, the outrageously idiotic behavior of the city's psycho drivers. miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos from 31 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu |
#17
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Alfred Molon wrote:
we are flying to KL in December. My Malaysian wife who routinely reads the news in chinapress.com.my keeps telling me that the security situation in KL has worsened substantially over the last few years. Far as I can tell, the only significant increase has heen in snatch thefts perpetrated by guys on mopeds who grab purses from women walking along the road. Recently one or two victims were dragged along and badly injured or killed, and it's gotten a lot of press. The only reason I think this is actually increased rather than just getting a lot of press is that the police seem to be responding to it a lot. The good news is that it's very easy to avoid. These guys ride around looking for loose bags being carried on the street side. When I'm in KL I'm used to go to the Citibank branch in Jalan Ampang even late at night and get larger amounts of cash from the ATM. Now my wife insists that I stop doing that, because she read stories that people will wait near the ATM, then follow people who took larger amounts of cash to steal it from them. Recently I posted a story (maybe in rec.travel.air) about how I withdrew about a thousand dollars (RM4000) from an ATM and then managed to spray it all over the floor, and people helped me pick it up. This happened at the Jalan Ampang Citibank, after dark. I was worried that some of it would go under the machines where it would be hard to retrieve, but I never for a moment worried about crime (other than perhaps a surreptitious pocketing of a note or two, which didn't happen). Also there are multiple security guards in there all the time. She also told me that if you stop with your car at the red traffic light, it can happen that somebody will open the car door, threaten you with a knife and steal your money. And so on. This not worth worrying about. This sort of famous crime happens maybe one time in every city and then people who are preoccupied with crime become convinced it happens at every red light. Though I haven't even heard of it happening here at all. All this makes me wonder if the security situation in KL has really deteriorated so much...? No, but the newspaper sensationalism situation has. Look, I wander around KL at all hours of the day and night. I always cut through alleys when it's the shortest way, even if it's 3 in the morning and there's no light. I sit out on a park bench on Jalan Sultan Ismail after midnight and access the internet with my laptop. And I am very obviously a foreigner. I sit in the same place around the same time with decent regularity, completely absorbed in what I'm doing, and anyone who was planning something has had ample opportunity. I have not seen or heard anything which has given me any reason to believe any of this is a bad idea - nothing that's happened to me, or to anyone I know or have read about. The one crime to be worried about in KL was, and continues to be, the outrageously idiotic behavior of the city's psycho drivers. miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos from 31 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu |
#18
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Alex wrote:
Please have my 2cents worth, Chinese newspapers (particularly China Press) usually put crime stories prominently on its frontpage to attract readers. This can give a very inaccurate representation about the security situation in the country. But do not panic for now. Thanks, that helps. -- Alfred Molon http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Austria, Prague, Budapest and Portugal |
#19
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Alex wrote:
Please have my 2cents worth, Chinese newspapers (particularly China Press) usually put crime stories prominently on its frontpage to attract readers. This can give a very inaccurate representation about the security situation in the country. But do not panic for now. Thanks, that helps. -- Alfred Molon http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Austria, Prague, Budapest and Portugal |
#20
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Miguel Cruz wrote:
Far as I can tell, the only significant increase has heen in snatch thefts perpetrated by guys on mopeds who grab purses from women walking along the road. Recently one or two victims were dragged along and badly injured or killed, and it's gotten a lot of press. The only reason I think this is actually increased rather than just getting a lot of press is that the police seem to be responding to it a lot. Is this a consequence of a deteriorating economy ? How is the situation of the economy right now ? Recently I posted a story (maybe in rec.travel.air) about how I withdrew about a thousand dollars (RM4000) from an ATM and then managed to spray it all over the floor, and people helped me pick it up. This happened at the Jalan Ampang Citibank, after dark. I was worried that some of it would go under the machines where it would be hard to retrieve, but I never for a moment worried about crime (other than perhaps a surreptitious pocketing of a note or two, which didn't happen). That's exactly the branch where I usually go, because with a Citibank card I can withdraw money with no banking fees. Withdrawing money and paying cash gives me a better rate than if I payed with the credit card I have (it's registered in Germany). By the way, my wife also told me that I shouldn't use the credit card, even in Sungei Wang or BB Plaza because people might copy the data on it and create a copy. I've never had a fraud case in these past 15 years, but should I perhaps be careful and only use the credit card in big and "established" places ? Look, I wander around KL at all hours of the day and night. I always cut through alleys when it's the shortest way, even if it's 3 in the morning and there's no light. I sit out on a park bench on Jalan Sultan Ismail after midnight and access the internet with my laptop. And I am very obviously a foreigner. I sit in the same place around the same time with decent regularity, completely absorbed in what I'm doing, and anyone who was planning something has had ample opportunity. Huh...? Is there a Wifi hotspot in that park ? The only nuisance at night, when you walk back from KLCC to Jalan Alor used to be that male prostitute at the corner. BTW, I'm also used to walking around even at night in KL with expensive computer and photographic equipment and larger amounts of cash. I never felt unsafe I have not seen or heard anything which has given me any reason to believe any of this is a bad idea - nothing that's happened to me, or to anyone I know or have read about. I haven't been in KL since last December, but would have classified KL as relatively safe. Maybe not as safe as Munich (Germany), where there are no bad neighbourhoods, but probably safer than places like Rome or Paris. -- Alfred Molon http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Austria, Prague, Budapest and Portugal |
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