Whenever we get into trouble in a foreign country, we would expect the local authorities to come to our aid and offer help.
Unfortunately, a Singaporean woman had no choice but to bear the pain of a dislocated knee and hobble her way back home after allegedly receiving no help from either the authorities or locals in Johor Bahru (JB).
Injured knee at JB mall
According to the 20-year-old woman’s father Imran, he told Stomp that his daughter Nurafiza was out shopping with a friend at the Johor Bahru City Square mall on May 3.
While shopping, Nurafiza injured her right leg but with the help of a friend, somehow managed to limp her way to seek help from Malaysian immigration officers.
Woman forced to limp from JB to S’pore
Imran said while his daughter was still on the Malaysian side, she asked for help from immigration officers due to being unable to walk on her own. However, they allegedly refused to lift a finger.
She was forced to continue limping in pain, supported only by her friend, and cried all the way to the public bus. When she approached the bus driver for assistance, she was further ignored.
“The driver, showing no empathy, asked for a doctor’s letter to prove her injury instead of offering help,” he claimed.
Imran added when Nurafiza reached Woodlands Checkpoint at around 11pm, she experienced a “stark contrast” when her friend approached the officers for help.
“They immediately rendered assistance with care and professionalism. They reassured her, provided physical support and made sure she was not left alone.
“A second group of Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers promptly managed her immigration clearance and contacted an ambulance.
“One of the officers also contacted my wife to explain the situation and informed us that our daughter was being sent to the hospital via ambulance,” he said.
Praised ICA officers for their help
Nurafiza was eventually transported to the Woodlands Health Campus and discharged at around 5am.
She was also given 14 days of medical leave for a dislocated patella, whereby one’s kneecap slips out of its groove at the knee joint.
Imran expressed deep gratitude to the ICA officers who stepped in to help his daughter in her moment of need.
“The ICA officers’ swift action, compassion and attentiveness gave us great comfort during a very distressing moment.
“As a parent, this experience highlights the stark difference in treatment across the border. It made us truly appreciate the strong support and care provided by the ICA team here in Singapore.”
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