S'porean in Johor for CNY hurt fending off attackers who smashed car windows outside family's home
Sarah Koh
The Straits Times
Feb 1, 2025
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, Ms Fang, a 42-year-old hairstylist, 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.
◤恶徒除夕至今天 砸车 泼漆 放炮骚扰．狮城女婿反击 全身伤◢ 一名在新加坡定居的女子返回柔佛州居銮家乡与家人团聚，岂料接连遭恶徒骚扰，其新加坡籍丈夫为保护家人，与恶客发生激烈冲突，以致他头部和身体多处受伤。 #中国报
Posted by China Press (中國報) on Friday 31 January 2025
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 were 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 the family do 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 were harassed at their home in 2023 and 2024 as well. But despite making multiple police reports, they have 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 their family were able to subdue and tie up one of the men during an attack on Jan 31, and found out from him 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 had arrested a 37-year-old man at around 6.10am on Jan 31.
KLUANG - Polis menahan seorang lelaki tempatan selepas dipercayai terbabit dalam insiden seorang lelaki warga Singapura...
Posted by Polis Johor on Friday 31 January 2025
Kluang district police chief 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 Assistant Commissioner Bahrin.
He said that the suspect has a history of criminal and drug-related offences, and 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 AC Bahrin.
