SINGAPORE/JOHOR BARU (The Straits Times/ANN): A Singaporean man who accompanied his wife back to her home town in Malaysia to celebrate Chinese New Year was injured, after he fended off attackers who harassed the family.
The wife, 42-year-old hairstylist Ms Fang, told Malaysian Chinese-language newspaper China Press that two men repeatedly harassed her family for three days during the festive season at her home in Kluang, Johor.
The attackers set off firecrackers and splashed paint outside the family’s home, and smashed the windows of two cars, said Ms Fang, adding that the family was forced to fight back with sticks in order to protect their home.
During the fight, Ms Fang’s husband sustained injuries to his head, ankle, chest, and arms.
Ms Fang said that the family does not owe money to any loan sharks, and the attackers did not leave behind any debt collection notices.
Ms Fang’s mother said that the family was harassed at their home in 2023 and 2024 as well. But despite multiple police reports, the family has not heard back from the authorities.
“If our family has a feud with anyone, we hope the perpetrator can give an explanation and we are willing to resolve the problem,” said Ms Fang’s mother.
“If they have found the wrong target, we hope they can stop harassing us.”
In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, Ms Fang said her family was able to subdue and tie up one of the men during an attack on Jan 31, and found out from one of the attackers that he was paid RM200 (S$60) to harass the family.
In an update on Feb 1, the Johor police said in a statement on Facebook that they arrested a 37-year-old man at around 6.10am on Jan 31.
Kluang district police chief, assistant commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh, said the police were alerted to an incident at 5.50am involving a man who was attacked with a machete.
“A team of officers from the Kluang police station rushed to the scene, and arrested a suspect,” said the police chief.
He said that the suspect has a history of criminal and drug-related offences, and that he tested positive for methamphetamine, according to a report by Sinar Harian.
The police are trying to locate two other accomplices.
The suspect will be under remand until Feb 3 to assist with ongoing investigations into the case, said Bahrin. - The Straits Times/ANN
