What happens when you insult and challenge the authorities?
3 Singaporeans were arrested and detained for 14 days after they allegedly hurled verbal abuse at a Malaysian immigration officer during a border inspection at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) in Johor Bahru.
The Singaporean family – which consists of a 42-year-old businesswoman known as Quek, and her 2 children aged 18 and 19 respectively – was heading back to Singapore from Johor Bahru when the incident occurred. News about their arrest has been widely shared on Facebook with photos of them in handcuffs as well as the family’s personal details.
A Facebook user name “Pokok Tumbang” was one of the first ones to post it on social media, specifically on a Facebook page called “JB Traffic, Road Blocks and Potholes Report”. The post, which detailed the occurrence in Bahasa Malaysia, has since been removed by either the user or the admin.
According to “Pokok Tumbang”, Quek was told to wind down her rear tinted car window at the checkpoint for routine inspection. After refusing to comply, the Malaysian immigration officer then requested for them to step out of the vehicle. Besides refusing again, the woman flipped the middle finger and shouted vulgarities at the officer, while repeatedly pressing the car horn.
Once detained by the officers on duty, the Singaporeans accused the aforementioned officer of asking for a bribe. For committing the offence, the trio have been detained to facilitate in the ongoing investigations.
“It is an offence to hurl abuse at my men who are just following the procedures during checks. So far our investigation also showed that the officer did not ask for any bribe as alleged by the suspects,” Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Rohaizi Bahari was quoted as saying.
Quek and her children are currently being investigated under Section 56(1) (g) of the Immigration Act, which carries a maximum penalty of RM10,000 fine or serve a maximum jail term of 5 years.
Do you think the Singaporeans deserved to be arrested for insulting the officer? Sound off in the comments section below.
Sources: Roads SG’s Facebook, The Independent, Free Malaysia Today.
