MALAYSIA MALL RIOT HOLDS LESSONS TO SINGAPORE
The riot in Malaysia’s Low Yat Plaza at City of Kuala Lumpur last weekend would not
have escalated with the pace and ferocity it did, were it not for the speed
with which rumours spread through social media.
Footage of the fight, taken shakily with a myriad of
smartphones belonging to spectators, spread like wildfire, 
reaching millions of
viewers in a matter of days.
reaching millions of
viewers in a matter of days.
The events unfolding in Malaysia hold lessons for Singapore.
The Republic boasts the highest smartphone penetration rate globally, and its
citizens are among the most active on social media.
Every day, netizens latch on to new photographs and videos,
which go viral.
Every now and then, the content focuses on the inter-racial
relationships in a multicultural society.
Every now and then, the content focuses on the inter-racial
relationships in a multicultural society.
This may be an opportune time to note that while Singapore
lives in relative harmony now, this was not always the case.
The Maria Hertogh riots in 1950 and the 1964 race riots left dozens dead and hundreds more injured.
The Maria Hertogh riots in 1950 and the 1964 race riots left dozens dead and hundreds more injured.
- In an era of instant information, where the lines between fact and fiction can sometimes be blurred, Singapore would do well not to take the peace its races enjoy for granted.
Source: Agency
18 ARRESTED IN MALAYSIAN LOW YAT BROWL AFTERMATH
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A total of 18 people have been arrested over
two days in connection with the theft and subsequent riots near Low Yat Plaza.
City police chief Comm Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa said
those arrested were aged between 16 and 40, including the man who was suspected
of stealing a mobile phone at the shopping complex on Saturday.
He also refuted claims that the main suspect in the theft
case was actually a victim of fraud, whereby he was sold a clone phone.
There are too many rumours and false news in social media.
This is one of the reason violence escalated last night and early this morning,
Tajuddin said.
Comm Tajuddin confirmed that the main investigation was
focused on theft of a mobile phone and it was not racially motivated.
He also assured the public that police presence would be
beefed up to maintain order near the Low Yat area.
We have things under controlled. People are safe to go to
the area,he said.
Comm Tajuddin said police would be monitoring social media
and did not rule out action against those who spread false news and incite
hatred among the people.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said The
Sedition Act will be used against those who destroy racial harmony in the Low
Yat Plaza incident.
He said he was disappointed at what took place at Low Yat
Plaza and the comments on social media following Sunday's incident.
"The people should not create racial hatred via the
internet or messaging apps on their phones.
"I have ordered the Home Ministry and Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission to monitor them thoroughly and at the
same time I will use the relevant Acts, especially the Sedition Act, against
those who destroy racial harmony," said Najib in a Mandarin statement on
his Facebook page.
On Sunday, five people, including two journalists, were
injured in a mob attack at the plaza in Bukit Bintang which was sparked by what
police said was due to a shoplifting incident earlier in the evening.
Source: The Star
KUALA LUMPUR EIGHT MOST AFFORDABLE CITY FOR TOURISTS
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur has been recognised
as the eighth most affordable destination in the world for a city break.
TripAdvisor's TripIndex revealed on Thursday that an average
of RM636.88 (S$246.08) for an evening out and overnight stay in a four-star
hotel for two in Kuala Lumpur has placed Malaysia's capital city among the top
10 in the Tripadvisor annual cost comparison.
The survey was conducted by independent research firm Ipsos
Mori.
Singapore is the 15th most expensive city, falling one spot
from 2013, with an average total cost of $428.93.
A meal for two with wine costs $124.00, two cocktails is
$40.00, a return 3-kilometre taxi journey $8.98 and a night’s stay in a 4-star
hotel room is $255.95. Interestingly, taxi fare in Singapore is amongst the
cheapest in the world (15th), costing nearly one-eighth the cost of taxi fare
in Oslo, Norway.
London, on the other hand, has been named as the most
expensive destination in the world with an average cost of RM1,693.05
(S$654.14).
London,
on the other hand, has been named as the most expensive destination in
the world with an average cost of RM1,693.05 (S$654.14). - See more at:
http://www.relax.com.sg/article/news/kl-eighth-most-affordable-city-for-tourists-tripadvisor#sthash.aqkyaA4M.dpuf
London,
on the other hand, has been named as the most expensive destination in
the world with an average cost of RM1,693.05 (S$654.14). - See more at:
http://www.relax.com.sg/article/news/kl-eighth-most-affordable-city-for-tourists-tripadvisor#sthash.aqkyaA4M.dpuf
Source: Trip Advisor
PETALING
JAYA, Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur has been recognised as the eighth most
affordable destination in the world for a city break.
TripAdvisor's TripIndex revealed on Thursday that an average of RM636.88 (S$246.08) for an evening out and overnight stay in a four-star hotel for two in Kuala Lumpur has placed Malaysia's capital city among the top 10 in the Tripadvisor annual cost comparison.
The survey was conducted by independent research firm Ipsos Mori.
London, on the other hand, has been named as the most expensive destination in the world with an average cost of RM1,693.05 (S$654.14).
Vietnam took the top spot this year as the best value destination, knocking over Sofia, Bulgaria from the previous year.
Asian cities like Hanoi, Jakarta, Bangkok, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur top the best value list.
Europe, home to seven of the top 10, continues to dominate the most expensive list.
Singapore is the 15th most expensive city, falling one spot from 2013, with an average total cost of $428.93.
A meal for two with wine costs $124.00, two cocktails is $40.00, a return 3-kilometre taxi journey $8.98 and a night’s stay in a 4-star hotel room is $255.95. Interestingly, taxi fare in Singapore is amongst the cheapest in the world (15th), costing nearly one-eighth the cost of taxi fare in Oslo, Norway.
The TripAdvisor TripIndex Cities is tracked against the British pound and is based on the combined costs for two of one night in a four-star hotel, cocktails, a two-course dinner with a bottle of wine, and return taxi transportation (two journeys of 3km each).
- See more at: http://www.relax.com.sg/article/news/kl-eighth-most-affordable-city-for-tourists-tripadvisor#sthash.aqkyaA4M.dpuf
TripAdvisor's TripIndex revealed on Thursday that an average of RM636.88 (S$246.08) for an evening out and overnight stay in a four-star hotel for two in Kuala Lumpur has placed Malaysia's capital city among the top 10 in the Tripadvisor annual cost comparison.
The survey was conducted by independent research firm Ipsos Mori.
London, on the other hand, has been named as the most expensive destination in the world with an average cost of RM1,693.05 (S$654.14).
Vietnam took the top spot this year as the best value destination, knocking over Sofia, Bulgaria from the previous year.
Asian cities like Hanoi, Jakarta, Bangkok, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur top the best value list.
Europe, home to seven of the top 10, continues to dominate the most expensive list.
Singapore is the 15th most expensive city, falling one spot from 2013, with an average total cost of $428.93.
A meal for two with wine costs $124.00, two cocktails is $40.00, a return 3-kilometre taxi journey $8.98 and a night’s stay in a 4-star hotel room is $255.95. Interestingly, taxi fare in Singapore is amongst the cheapest in the world (15th), costing nearly one-eighth the cost of taxi fare in Oslo, Norway.
The TripAdvisor TripIndex Cities is tracked against the British pound and is based on the combined costs for two of one night in a four-star hotel, cocktails, a two-course dinner with a bottle of wine, and return taxi transportation (two journeys of 3km each).
- See more at: http://www.relax.com.sg/article/news/kl-eighth-most-affordable-city-for-tourists-tripadvisor#sthash.aqkyaA4M.dpuf
KUALA LUMPUR IS DANGEROUS PLACE TO LIVE IN?
A backpacker by the name of Dave
Ramsay from the United Kingdom has visited countries like Africa and Yemen, but
picks Kuala Lumpur as the most dangerous place he has ever been to.
Dave had related his experience
about being stabbed and mugged in the city on travel site Virtual Tourist. The
incident took place near Hard Rock Cafe in Jalan Sultan Ismail on Oct 5.
According to Dave he was stabbed in
the chest and then slashed across the arm with a knife, before the robber fled
with his bag.
Dave said there was no regard for his life since he was attacked
before being robbed, instead of the other way round. However, his ordeal did
not end there.
Not only did it take 30 minutes to
reach a hospital as most taxis did not stop for him after seeing blood, police
were also ineffective and inefficient.
Dave said, security at local
venues did nothing. Tourist police also did not ask anything about the robber
and only produced a report for an insurance claim, making the victim feel they
had no interest in pursuing the criminal.
"This place needs avoiding big
time. I have travelled to Africa, Yemen, and SE Asia for nearly 30 years and I
am not a squeamish person but I genuinely believe this to be the most dangerous
place I have been to, due to the vast number of incidents and the frequency of
them. It’s epidemic," wrote Dave.
As a Malaysian and experiencing living half
of my life in Kuala Lumpur, I don’t totally agree with Dave. I treated his case
as isolated because I have many foreigner friends visiting or stay in Kuala
Lumpur are not facing ordeal as much as Dave has.
Basically Kuala Lumpur is a nice
place to visit. However, like any cities in the world, danger will always come
and goes. Subjective to how we handle our situation living a big city like
Kuala Lumpur.
Source: Asiaone
VISITORS GEOFLAGS SINCE AUGUST 26, 2009
