Stolen Sabah cars in Indonesia?

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Photographs of some of the vehicles in Long Bawan, believed smuggled from Ba’kalalan.

KOTA KINABALU: Hundreds of vehicles reported stolen in Sabah could have been smuggled to Long Bawan in North Kalimantan, Indonesia.

This was disclosed to The Borneo Post by one of the victims, Benny Liew, who found his stolen car there.

After his friend in Ba’kalalan told him his car had been smuggled to the Indonesian border, the photographer drove all the way from Kota Kinabalu to Long Bawan.

“My car was stolen at my house in Penampang early morning of January 25, 2015. I made a police report on that day and also posted about my loss on social media, hoping for help from everyone to spread the news.

“A friend in Sarawak who saw my status in Facebook told me he saw my Toyota Land Cruiser at Ba’kalalan heading to the Indonesian border, the final stop for most smuggled cars from Sabah and Sarawak before being sold in Long Bawan,” said Liew.

He headed for Lawas on January 30 and continued his journey to Ba’kalalan the next day.

He said many people he met at Ba’kalalan claimed that the demand for stolen cars was always high in Long Bawan.

“From Lawas to Ba’kalalan was seven hours’ drive, and another hour to Long Bawan.

“I was shocked when hundreds of cars, mostly four-wheel-drives at Long Bawan were with Sabah plate numbers. Mostly with SAA plate. I still remember a new Ninja King SAA126H drove by a local there.

“Many plate numbers were also removed.

“Apparently it was not difficult to track down my car because Long Bawan is a small place. An Indonesian police officer helped me with the searching and found my car without plate number, but still in good condition,” he said.

Liew was asked to pay RM35,000, the amount the ‘new owner’ paid to the smuggler.

But he refused to pay and took his car.

“I am very disappointed with the cooperation from our own security forces at the border. They are not helpful.

“I did not make any police report in Sarawak but brought hundreds of photographs back home and informed the police here in KK.

“I even interviewed the locals there, asking the situation of smuggling activities. I recorded their statements in video hoping the authorities will do something to stop this from happening since many cars in KK were stolen since a few years back,” said Liew.

He also said the smuggling activities were the ‘bread and butter’ for many people living at the border.

“Most kedai runcit (retail shops) are also selling goods with Kedai 1Malaysia brand. Our petrol and diesel also sold here.

“Stolen cars from Sabah are sold at RM5,000 to RM8,000 if it is an old model, while the new ones will cost RM15,000 to RM20,000 each.

Liew hopes his discovery will be a starting point for other owners who lost their cars to push the authorities to investigate the matter to stop the stolen car cases in the state.