I AM a tourist from Vietnam. I recently had a bad experience in Kuala Lumpur, falling victim to foreigners using an 8-year-old child to cheat tourists.
I went to a shop in Jalan Pudu, when a well-dressed man claiming to be a tourist from Dubai approached me.
The surprising thing was not his appearance, but how he cunningly deceived me, taking all my money.
After learning that I was from Vietnam, he showed interest and immediately claimed that he wanted to visit my country. Then, he asked that I show his son some Vietnamese currency.
A short while later, his wife and 8-year-old son appeared, and in an instant he took all the money from my wallet, showed it to his son, and then returned the wallet to me.
I didn't notice he had taken the money because I was focused on his hands, never thinking that someone would dare to commit such a crime.
I only realised the money was gone when checking my wallet in the hotel room. All I could do was rush back to the mart near the hotel and ask for assistance from the staff to report the matter to the police.
This is a reprehensible tactic. It is not only a cruel and despicable act but should worry Malaysian society even though it was done by foreigners.
According to reports, 2,366 foreigners were detained for various crimes in 2023. It is an increase from 1,957 cases in 2022.
If not addressed effectively, it will negatively affect the image and reputation of Malaysia.
A second issue is about the non-transparent price increases at eateries in Jalan Alor, a popular food street for locals and tourists.
My family experienced unexpected surcharges and unclear pricing structures during a recent dining experience. This will make international visitors lose trust towards those in business there.
Therefore, I hope the authorities take serious measures to prevent and punish such unscrupulous practices, which will only enhance perception of fairness and security, especially for foreign tourists.
LE MANH CUONG
Hanoi, Vietnam