Driving in Malaysia - please read

Technospaz wrote:

goGoffy wrote:

Technospaz wrote:

Gofnut wrote:

The question is "Why are you carrying a baseball bat in your car?" If it is to play baseball, then it is not an offence. But if it is for self defence, then the bat becomes a weapon and therefore, an offence. Thats why you should throw in a baseball and glove to give the impression you are a baseball player. You do not carry a whole bag of golf clubs for self defence but if its just one piece of 7 iron....then it depends on how you answer when asked.

So, if the guy (when asked by the customs officer) said that he uses the bat for self defence... then there's little else we can say now, is there?

The offence carries a mandatory custodial sentence. No place for speculation. Look up offensive weapon under the singapore statute, please.

What I meant was that if he openly admitted to using the bat as a weapon of self defense, then there's not much else to discuss, right?

Ah i see now. If i carried it for practise grip then wont kenna confiscated. Which is what i wanted the club in the car for of course.

as far as im concerned....

a baseball bat is an offensive weapon as a 2 carat diamond ring.....

haragolfer wrote:

Technospaz wrote:

goGoffy wrote:

Technospaz wrote:

Gofnut wrote:

The question is "Why are you carrying a baseball bat in your car?" If it is to play baseball, then it is not an offence. But if it is for self defence, then the bat becomes a weapon and therefore, an offence. Thats why you should throw in a baseball and glove to give the impression you are a baseball player. You do not carry a whole bag of golf clubs for self defence but if its just one piece of 7 iron....then it depends on how you answer when asked.

So, if the guy (when asked by the customs officer) said that he uses the bat for self defence... then there's little else we can say now, is there?

The offence carries a mandatory custodial sentence. No place for speculation. Look up offensive weapon under the singapore statute, please.

What I meant was that if he openly admitted to using the bat as a weapon of self defense, then there's not much else to discuss, right?

Ah i see now. If i carried it for practise grip then wont kenna confiscated. Which is what i wanted the club in the car for of course.

Put it this way, if you carry a spare PW in your car and the customs officer asks what it's for, your answer will likely affect the outcome. If you say that you carry it as you're heading to the driving range for some practice, they wouldn't really care. If you say that you use it to protect yourself against vermin and other forms of street scum, then you're just asking for trouble.

too many horror stories....

TS, I guess in certain instances one can talk their way out of it when the lines are blurred as to what constitutes a weapon. I suspect though it would be harder to do so if caught with a baseball bat beside the driver's seat versus a golf club.

In any case, I've had the fortune or misfortune, depending on how you see it, of being hauled in for an 'interview' at the Woodlands checkpoint on the way back in to Singapore.

You'd be surprised how many are actually waiting for an 'interview' with the officer. I saw all manner of batons that are downright illegal.

The process is simple enough, they take down your details for future reference, you only get one warning, they make you aware that what you had in your car can construed as weapon, then you are let off with a warning.

In conversation, I learnt that baseball bats and golf clubs are considered a no-no, if stopped on the roads of Singapore, no leniency. At immigration, let off with a warning, because as he said, if they hauled in every Singaporean at the checkpoints they catch, they'd run out of holding space.

According to him, here's how they see it.

It is sports equipment if kept in the boot of your car and the golf club is in your golf bag.

If it's beside the driver's seat, it's seen as an offensive weapon, since that is not usually the place to keep sports equipment. Even having it in the back seat could possibly spell trouble. And between a basball bat and golf club, you can guess which the more evil of the two.

There are however ways around it he said, long large torchlights (for breakdown situations in the dark), and steering locks, are a non-issue if kept beside the driver's seat. And as someone mentioned, there are steering locks that are ingeniously shaped and weighted like a baseball bat.

Hope this helps give some peace of mind to other JB loving golfers like myself.

i think another way is to carry a maglite;

http://www.maglite.com/productline.asp

Check out the 6 d cell is 19inch.
With full pack of 6 d cell batt, it can he a great defensive or offensive weapon.

Carryin? Hope you are trained. Not funny when having the same bat or club turned around and used against yourself.

Just back from JB , my take it just don't bring anything illegal . 3 Malaysian registered was pulled aside with cartons of ciggies in the car. According to the ICA guys who did the check on my ride, the ciggies are by hundred of cartons, basically the whole car plus the roof filled with ciggies. To bro's who smoke and slip 1 or 2 box/cartons... beware.. Not worth the trouble...

The definition of "offensive weapons" is very wide and covers anything that can be used to cause hurt. If it a 5mm thick cane, I would say its not likely to be a weapon that can cause hurt (the poor kid will probably disagree!). But if it's a 20mm dia X 1m long cane, how to argue it is not a weapon? Read Para 3 and 4 of the below link for further understanding.
http://www.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MTkzNQ%3D%3D-5gRpvDj4gV4%3D

goGoffy wrote:

Swerve wrote:

Derrickc wrote:

chihheng wrote:

The gentlemen who commented having a wedge close by sounded funny ... but its no joke! Friend I know from Malaysia carries a short baseball bat tucked below the drivers seat. Last line of defence!

Don't put a baseball bat in your car without a baseball or glove. My wife's colleague had a bat in his car, got caught when re-entering SG. Kena invited to room for interview and bat conficated.

This really pisses me off.

Our car is private property and unless it is an illegal weapon like a firearm - what right do they have confiscating it? I'd have asked for that officer(s) name and ID number and made a formal complaint.

Can a baseball bat not be used as a weapon? I guess it is less likely to be used as a weapon where there is a glove or ball lying close by. Of course, not everyone would agree with that.

So can a pen, a pair of scissors, your house keys or even your belt. They can ALL be lethal weapons.

Besides even if one has gloves/ball present - how is that any less likely a weapon? Not like the metal/wood magically turned into rubber.

FYI I'm NOT directing my comment at you bro - just saying in general.

Gofnut wrote:

The definition of "offensive weapons" is very wide and covers anything that can be used to cause hurt. If it a 5mm thick cane, I would say its not likely to be a weapon that can cause hurt (the poor kid will probably disagree!). But if it's a 20mm dia X 1m long cane, how to argue it is not a weapon? Read Para 3 and 4 of the below link for further understanding.
http://www.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MTkzNQ%3D%3D-5gRpvDj4gV4%3D

A baseball bat wielded in self defense is one thing - kids brandishing knives on an MRT is quite another bro.

As per my previous post - any damn thing could be made into a weapon. A pen stabbed into an eye, house keys held a la brass knuckles and used to puncture or slash ones throat or even a belt used to strangle someone.

Should I be going to a client meeting without a pen and a belt to hold my pants up then?

@Swerve, you will note that in defining offensive weapons, there is no listing of items or descriptions given. It simply says "anything that can cause hurt".So in theory, you are right. Many things can be used as a weapon. So where do we go from here? Ask the authorities to give a comprehensive list? Surely this cannot be. I believe the key issue is the intent, If I tell the police I keep this belt with a heavy buckle in my car so that I can use it to defend myself, then it obviously will be seen as a weapon. If I am wearing the same belt and I say it's fashionable, then it gives a different spin, right? So the moral of the story is if you decide to carry something that might be construed an offensive weapon, be careful of your explanation when asked. And it helps to make your explanation more plausible if your actions support it e.g.keeping the item in the booth versus leaving it under the driver's seat.

Gofnut wrote:

@Swerve, you will note that in defining offensive weapons, there is no listing of items or descriptions given. It simply says "anything that can cause hurt".So in theory, you are right. Many things can be used as a weapon. So where do we go from here? Ask the authorities to give a comprehensive list? Surely this cannot be. I believe the key issue is the intent, If I tell the police I keep this belt with a heavy buckle in my car so that I can use it to defend myself, then it obviously will be seen as a weapon. If I am wearing the same belt and I say it's fashionable, then it gives a different spin, right? So the moral of the story is if you decide to carry something that might be construed an offensive weapon, be careful of your explanation when asked. And it helps to make your explanation more plausible if your actions support it e.g.keeping the item in the booth versus leaving it under the driver's seat.

Bro thing of it is? I agree with you as lets be frank - we all lie put a different spin on things to protect ourselves at some point or the other

The only one thing I don't agree with is "Ask the authorities to give a comprehensive list? Surely this cannot be."

Why cannot?

Before you say hero lah sure kena whack gao gao by the authorities one.....

I'm not a political dissident in any way shape or form. What I do hope for would be for society to grow out of our collective shells and not be afraid to even ask why? So long as it isn't in a confrontational manner - why shouldn't a law abiding citizen who pays my dues on time be able to ask for an explanation?

drive to the course... play golf... eat nearby then quickly come back... no issue

pippin wrote:

drive to the course... play golf... eat nearby then quickly come back... no issue

Best post. I agree! No fuss.

Anyway just try to stay low profile in JB and if you really sway anywhere u also can kenna even in sg.