10,000 RM KOPI MONEY EXPERIENCE
I was sitting in my friend’s Malaysian car plate car the other day. Driving out of Sunway Big Box (Medini) at 6.30pm when there was still light.
We were heading back to his house to cook after our groceries shopping. When we exited the mall (like someone stalking us), I had a very weird feeling & I told my friend my concerns. But at that point we didn’t think much of it & brushed it off.
While on the way to the 1st traffic light I saw a police car that was parked along the road. We were driving at a very conservative speed & the car didn’t have any thing that is illegal. Awhile later, we observed that the same police car was kinda tailing behind us but kept a distance.
Until a few minutes later, the police car sounded his sirens asking the driver to alight from the car. I saw that they have a ‘box’ in their system to check on the drivers particulars.
My friend & I are Singaporeans but driving his family’s car. I think while tailing us, they were checking the car ownership in their system.
Anyway, they asked for our passports, there was 5 of them, 1 of them was guarding the passenger seat (I didn’t alight). I think its their lucky day, they kept saying that because I didn’t bring my passport, I needed to pay them money.
I said I don’t have so much cash in hand because his family house was just around the corner. (So in my mind, I didn’t think need all this) But the officer kept insisting on paying him the price of 10,000RM777777 Or else I’ll be banned from entering Malaysia for the next 5 years.
I said I could go to the bank & draw from the nearby bank atm. Suggesting that they follow our car. But The officer got scared & demanded for us to pay him all the cash that we had as TUITION FEES. His teaching us how to get about msia lawmen That’s what he claimed. LOL.
Long story short, as we were both very tired, I took out around 500rm & passed it to them (TOO MUCH (i)s) so that they’ll let us go. But now I know, after talking to my local msia friends, if you ever encountered this kind of situation, just say u no money & keep insisting for them to go with u to the atm.
As KOPI MONEY is ILLEGAL in msia now!!! They don’t dare to go bank/ atm as there’s cameras around & it’s like blackmail on their end.
Unless you drink drive/ do anything against msia laws (going by bus lanes at customs.) All this can help you. REMAIN CALM AT ALL COST.
How to avoid them:
Just say you don’t have money
You’re a STUDENT
Need go bank ATM draw.
You stay at TAMAN BUKIT INDAH/ Johorjaya (anyhow BOMB a local area) say you only know how to go, don’t know how to say.
You come here to visit your dying grandmother
All this tips are what I gathered by locals.
In Msia, EVERYONE (driver & passengers) bring your PASSPORT/ NW at ALL Times(even for SHORT distances like me.) SingPass is apparently NOT recognised by msia side.
Disclaimer, I’m not trying to offend or spoilt the reputation of other country. After all, we’re still tourists & it’s best to abide by their laws. This is just my pricey experience that I don’t do wish for other tourists (like us) to happen to. Msia is & has always been a very beautiful yet enjoyable country to go to.
Source: Marissa on Lemon8