I heard this story and can't believe it to be true but have been assured that it is - wondering what others think and have your heard of this happening to others? A UK expat - lady in her 60's was pulled over in the Bangsar area for a driving offence - she did not have any id on her and the police demanded she pay RM500 - she refused and by the sounds of it might have got a bit aggro with them - anyway they dragged her off to the police station despite her requesting that she be able to contact her husband - now here's where it gets difficult to believe - at the station they gave her 6 lashes, fined her RM10k then told her she could call her husband. She and her husband have since left KL (48 hours after this incident).
If it is true I can't believe it hasn't been reported anywhere and I'm also surprised that Embassies haven't issued warnings to expats to always ensure that you carry adequate ID.

Has anyone else had problems with police in these circumstances?

Well I was recently pulled over by police (usual roadblock around Raya time) and was only able to produce my Aus licence (since I never got around to getting a Malaysian one). The policeman asked me for money on the spot but I politely insisted on a ticket. In the end he 'saved face' by giving me a warning but no ticket!

Haven't heard anything about being whipped, caned or whatever. It sounds unlikely but I wouldn't completely rule it out over here!

I seriously doubt our police are capable of whipping, especially a UK expat. Please verify your story!

I highly doubt our police are doing such things. Please verify your story and show proof!

I would hope the moderators would delete posts such as this OP.
How ridiculous to expect every member to prove a negative...this is a form of rumour or fear-mongering without any reference to any fact...pure speculation.
For example:- I could say that I'd heard from someone that tomorrow is Wednesday...has anyone else heard? Would I logically expect thousands of members to reply that they still thought it was Monday...of course not...it would be a ridiculous question in the first place...same as the OP's here!

If the OP has information which has some source for verification....rather than a negative rumour...then we might be more responsive.

Just to be clear - I too had doubts about this story hence my posting - I am not trying to be alarmist. My point was more about trying to find out if it is indeed a criminal offence in Malaysia not to have ID on you - not for driving - that I understand but what about just visiting a shopping mall? If it is indeed a requirement for all people (including visitors) in Malaysia to carry ID then this should be known. I am an expat living here and I certainly was not aware of this requirement.

Going off topic a bit but judicial caning does occur in Malaysia, and according to Amnesty International 'as many as 10,000 people each year are subjected to
caning in Malaysia, and many of them are foreign nationals.'

--- Although unlikely this includes British expats for driving offences or lack of ID

To be judicially caned, one has to be sentenced by a court.

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/uploads/do.../doc_21090.pdf

I must have been rather lucky then! A couple of weeks ago I drove over to my M-I-L house to pick up my wife. M-I-L's house is a couple of kilometres from here and I forgot to take my bag with me. My bag has my UK Passport, UK Driving Licence and Malaysian driving licence in it (only because I forgot to take my UK licence out!). On the main road (just before the turn-off to my M-I-L's house there was a police road-block. I slowed down and fortunately, after a cursory glance from the nearest cop, I was waved through! My car does have Melaka plates on it. I understand it IS a requirement in Malaysia to carry identification with you at all times - I usually do, just that that time I was in a bit of a rush. I always try to remember to carry my bag now!

Thanks for the link AJW
I read all the 66 punishments by caning and none of them included a punishment for not carrying ID.
The closest would be.....
#6 Unlawful entry to Malaysia
another might be....
#377A Carnal intercourse against the order of nature

Seems we will never know what this aggro 60 year old woman did to those cops....

I wrote another reply on this but it seems to have disappeared somewhere...


It would be interesting to understand why some in Malaysia believe that this is plausible...

Be interesting to know exactly where Bingers got the story from, wouldn't it. I've just googled. Can find nothing.

Caning done by the police without it being sentenced by a court is a severe offence of the police force and it will be severely dealt with. Its considered abusive of power.

Even for a Malaysian, we are required to show driving license if stop by a police.

The most you get is a ticket, and definitely not to the extreme of having cane as punishment - even if its being hauled to court! (Well unless you cant afford to pay the fine, a jail term) - but canning, is ridiculous.

Plenty of news items relating to police violence and abuse of power in Malaysia. That Amnesty report related interviews of people who suffered severe abuse and violence in the cells awaiting formal arrest or court. Lets not pretend it doesn't happen. Its just unlikely its happening to white, British expats.