ADVISORY FOR INDIAN TOURISTS VISITING MALAYSIA
In the last year, some incidents have come to the attention of the High Commission where Indian tourists have been stopped on the streets in Kuala Lumpur by fraudsters claiming to be police officials who ask to search the bags of the tourists on the pretext of looking for fake currency and drugs, and thereafter, make a hasty exit with the cash the people are carrying.
An email received from a recent victim of such an incident is placed below, which outlines the anatomy of how such incidents usually take place.
Cases of bag snatching are also fairly common in tourist areas.
All Indian tourists are therefore advised the following:
a) Do not carry your passport in your handbag or pocket. Carry a photocopy instead, along with your Hotel key card as additional proof of your legitimate presence in Malaysia.
b) Do not carry any valuables in your handbag.
c) Carry only as much cash as you require.
d) Do not readily show your identification papers or open your handbag for anyone claiming to be a policeman. Should you be stopped, insist on going to the nearest police station instead where any such check, if required, can take place.
e) Make your way to the police station independently and NOT in the vehicle of the people who have stopped you.
f) Should you, nevertheless, become a victim of such an incident, please inform the High Commission by email at
Email received from an Indian tourist on 9 April 2011
Hello Sir,
We were a group of 7 tourists from Mumbai, India and were in Kuala Lumpur from 1-3rd April. We stayed at Hotel Summer View near KL Sentral.
On the evening of 2nd April, after dinner in the Brickfields area, about 3 minutes from our Hotel we were stopped by men in a silver car who flashed some ID in front of us and demanded to check our bags. They kept on claiming that Indians brings fake currency and drugs in Malaysia and checked our bags. They were 2 men, very hefty and rude and accompanied by one woman in the backseat. The car had Malaysian flag on the dashboard and a lot pf helpline number stickers on the windshield. Though there was no sticker indicating a police vehicle. We were unsuspecting tourists, a bit taken aback by the drug claims and handed over the bags out of fear.
They kept pulling out our money from the bags and sniffing it as if checking fro drugs. And while doing all this they robbed us of all our money (about 2000USD between all of us, including MYR) and zoomed off. We went to the police van stationed nearby to report this. The van was just 100 meters in the next lane from where this happened. However, due to language problem we took about 10 mins to make the officer at the van understand about the incident. Also, please note all people in our group were in the age group of 50+ yrs, except myself and we all were quite shaken.
While the incident was reported at 10.30pm, we were asked to go to the police station and make a formal complaint. We were assured that a police patrol car will take us to the police station and assist us. However, no police car turned up till 2am while we kept waiting for it. Eventually, we had to give up as we had to leave at 5am to catch our flight. We were very disappointed by the police's approach towards us, (a couple of us are senior citizens).
I would like to request you to take this matter seriously and issue warnings to citizens travelling to KL. It was fortunate that none of us were unhurt though we did lose a lot of money.
Would you need any more details on this matter, do let me know.
Regards,
Arati
Email received from an Indian tourist on 8 May, 2013
Malaysia Tourism Promotion board
Ministry of Tourism
Putrujaya
Tel , Fax
Sub : My family vacation to Malaysia April 29 - May 07,2013
I write this email on behalf of my family with considerable regret on an incident that occurred on me and my family and that too on my very first day of arrival at KLIA on April 29, 2013 by flight MH 195 from Mumbai, India.
I am presently staying in after completing my tour to Genting and Langkawi.
My Passport and Visa details are as follows :
Rohan Ramachandra Poi Panandiker : VISA issued by Malaysia Immigration on April 17, 2013 Ref no OVS/40451/13DDN2JT3C/E and reciept no IN2C000922. Passport no G3198738
Nutan Rohan Panandikar: Passport no G3198996 ( wife ) Ref. same as above.
Rudraj Rohan Poi Panandikar : Passport no J3867362 (son) Ref. Same as above.
Other important items carried during Travel:
$ USD 1045 in cash.
2 Major Visa /Mastercard credit cards.
2 Debit cards Visa.
The Incident:
Our flight arrived on schedule and enroute all of us enjoyed the ever wonderful hospitality of Malaysia Airlines. We collected our baggage and proceeded to one of the currency changing Kiosks at the terminal. I changed USD $ 450 in cash vide Maybank receipt no 17 at 7.49 am and got exactly RM 1273.50 . The balance $ USD 595 in cash was carefully stored in my red color carryon bag which also houses a yellow color pouch which I carry wherever I travel.
After completing customs clearance we proceeded to the arrival lounge where we were greeted by the representative of our inbound tour company Tel no (6) Fax no (6) . One Mr Suren (driver ) was assigned our tour duties and we immediately began our city tour as suggested by the Representative starting with Kings Palace, National Monument, Independence square , Mosque, KL Petronas etc. Our main luggage was deposited at the rear side of the Minivan which was assigned to us and the carryon bags were with us in the passenger seating area.
As soon as we completed Kings Palace, National Monument, Independence square and the mosque I happened to check my red color carryon bag and yellow color pouch housed in the same red color carryon bag as a matter of routine. To my utter shock I realized only the $ USD 595 had disappeared! . Surprisingly all credit cards, passports, tickets , itineraries were intact . In sheer panic just when we continued driving towards the musuem I began asking the driver Mr Suren whether anyone had entered the minivan or if he had seen anything suspicious happening when we stopped for photo shoots enroute various stops. I told him that my currency $ 595 USD was stolen. He blatantly denied and pretended as if he knew nothing.
Sir, my question to you even if a thief had got inside the Minivan he would have either stolen the entire bag and fled or would have dislodged / disturbed the items in the bag. The very fact that everything was intact and only the currency targeted leaves serious doubts on the integrity of Mr Suren, the driver of our Minivan who might have indulged in this act during the photo sessions between the Kings palace and the Mosque. I relentlessly questioned Mr Suren who gave me vague explanations but I could certainly feel he was uncomfortable. With the limited time that we had in Malaysia I did not venture to report the matter to the police , Indian mission nor embassy or the travel agency as we had to proceed to Genting to check in the hotel immediately after the city tour on 29th April itself at 3.00pm at Hotel First World . I have however reported this matter to my travel agent in India who had made this elaborate arrangements for us and to take up the matter with M P travels in Malaysia. We drove to Getting and enroute stopped at Batu caves . Luckily I had RM 1273.50 changed at KLIA and credit /Debit cards. I can imagine what life would have been if I had no alternatives.!
May I please request you to investigate this matter or atleast inquire with the travel agency?. I have always held Malaysia for its strict enforcement of the rule of law just like Singapore. I want to return home with fond memories of this beautiful and extremely liberal land . I would appreciate if my grievance is addressed as per the laws in force.
Today is 06th May 2013. My travel agent in India AMR representations , Gr floor, Mahalsa residency, AC Pacheco road, Borda, Margao -Go 403602 India Tel # have tried their best to persuade M P Travels to sort out the matter but it seems they trying to avoid a settlement or investigation. I return to India tomorrow, 07th May by Flight MH 194 to Mumbai departing at 2010 Hrs from KLIA. I am willing to file a report so that prompt action could be taken by the law enforcing authorities.
Elections have concluded and the people of Malaysia have spoken!. I hope the elected representatives will as part of their national agenda strive to make lives of tourists like us a little safe, secure and easy in Malaysia. I am sure you will spare no efforts to deliver justice to tourists like us who spend their hard earned money and contribute to your economy.
With Best wishes,
Rohan
+
Mobile
Office: , .
Copy to:
Chief of Royal Malaysia Police
Indian High Commission in Malaysia
MP Travels
AMR representation, Goa India.
