S'poreans falsely claim car thefts in Johor: M'sian politician

A Johor state assemblyman has called for an investigation into reports of car thefts by Singaporeans, saying some of them had deliberately abandoned their vehicles to make insurance claims.

Speaking at the state assembly on Tuesday, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong of Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional party said he was informed by friends of cases where Singaporeans would leave behind their luxury cars and then report it as stolen, reported Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times.

These Singaporeans would subsequently make insurance claims and purchase cheaper cars, as they might have been unable to maintain ownership of luxury cars, he was quoted by the media as saying.

The assemblyman noted that such false claims have tarnished the image of Johor as being unsafe for tourists.

Tee also highlighted the need for Malaysian authorities to work with their Singaporean counterparts and Interpol to investigate the matter, the Malaysian newspaper reported.

This issue was brought to the surface after a Singaporean-owned vehicle was recovered by the police after being reported stolen two months ago. Tee said he found it strange that the owner did not want to claim the car.