JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - Only 1.4 per cent of crime cases in Johor this year involved Singaporean victims, Johor police chief Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said yesterday.

He refuted reports of crimes targeting Singaporeans across the Causeway.

There were only 19 cases of robbery involving Singaporean victims between January and October, less than half the 44 cases in the same period last year.

'Between 830,000 and 850,000 Singaporeans enter the state monthly, and only a handful are victims of crimes,' the police chief said.

High-profile crimes involving Singaporeans over the years have made some Singaporeans wary about going across the Causeway.

Some believe that Singaporeans are being targeted there.

However, the Johor police chief cited figures and said such cases were on the decline.

Only 26 cases of intimidation against Singaporeans were recorded so far this year, down from 47 last year, he said.

There were also 14 cases of vehicle theft involving Singaporeans this year, about the same as 15 last year.

'Criminal cases involving Singaporean victims are on a decline this year,' Deputy Commissioner Mohd Mokhtar said.

He added that the state's crime prevention efforts were paying off.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK