Two Chinese men were recently caught for allegedly stealing passengers’ luggage on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Netizens mocked the Chinese Communist Party for exporting theft culture and raised concerns about the permanent visa exemption agreement between China and Malaysia.
According to reports from Lianhe Zaobao and Shin Min Daily News on June 4, the Singapore police received a report around 8:50 pm on June 2, indicating a theft incident on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
It was reported that a 35-year-old man was seen taking some items from a female passenger’s luggage in the overhead compartment, which caught the attention of a nearby couple. Upon arriving in Singapore, the couple witnessed the female passenger retrieving her luggage and realized that the 35-year-old man who had rummaged through the luggage earlier did not own it. After disembarking, the couple informed the female passenger about the suspected theft incident and reported it to the police.
Upon receiving the report, the Singapore police identified the man based on the description provided by the couple and CCTV footage, and arrested him at a lounge in Terminal 1 Transit Area of Changi Airport within an hour. Another 40-year-old man believed to be his accomplice was also arrested. The police confiscated 169 Singapore dollars (approximately 557 Malaysian ringgit) in cash and found two bank debit cards belonging to a female passenger on the same flight in a trash bin.
Following the incident, the two Chinese nationals, 35-year-old Liu Xitang and 40-year-old Wang Wei, were each charged with one count of conspiring to commit theft on June 4. If convicted, they could face up to three years in prison, a fine, or both.
This incident sparked discussions among local Chinese netizens:
“Stealing is a traditional culture of the Chinese Communist Party, now promoting Communist culture across borders, asserting dominance internationally.”
“While you are still discussing whether visa-free should be for one month or three, a large number of criminals from our motherland have already flooded in.”
“Theft by the Chinese Communist Party is leading the way in deception and fraud internationally.”
“Chinese people are embarrassing themselves worldwide, yet they are still considered a major country. Would Malaysians ever do something as disgraceful?”
“Even theft can be internationalized, showing a level of strength that cannot be underestimated.”
On April 17, China and Malaysia officially signed the “Visa Exemption Agreement,” granting permanent visa-free entry between the two countries. The influx of more Chinese nationals into Malaysia has sparked controversy locally.