On April 9, 2025, Pol. Col. Songwut Chueplakij, Chief of Division 2 and associated officers, along with Pattaya Tourist Police officers and Pattaya City Police officers, received a tip from a security guard in Pattaya. The guard reported witnessing two foreign tourists—one male and one female—setting up a camera to take photos appearing to depict sexual intercourse on the sidewalk along South Pattaya Road near Walking Street. Even more shockingly, this happened in broad daylight with many tourists and local residents, including children, around.   Pattaya Tourist Police, in collaboration with the Investigation Unit of Division 2, Tourist Police Bureau 1, and Pattaya City Police, conducted an investigation and identified the two individuals as Mr. Zhihang, aged 67, and Miss Tingting, aged 35, a Chinese tourist couple. The authorities tracked them down and brought them to the Pattaya Tourist Police Station for questioning.   Mr. Zhihang stated that he is a photographer who enjoys taking nude photos in various locations around the world. He admitted to having taken similar photos in several countries and, on this occasion, had come to Thailand for a vacation, seizing the opportunity to add to his collection. He claimed he was unaware that this violated Thai law and apologized to the Thai people and relevant agencies for damaging Pattaya’s tourism image. The two suspects were then taken to meet investigators at Pattaya City Police Station for further legal proceedings. Pol. Col. Songwut Chueplakij, Superintendent of Division 2, Tourist Police Bureau 1, also issued a public announcement to tourists planning to visit Pattaya during the upcoming Songkran Festival, urging them to cooperate by adhering to legal regulations while traveling. He encouraged them to stay vigilant and report any incidents to officers stationed at various points or via the application, enabling authorities to prevent or respond to situations 24 hours a day.    

MS Polls: Is hawker centre food getting too expensive? 71% of respondents ask for price caps   Despite rising costs, hawker centres are still an essential part of livelihood for many Singaporeans.     MS Polls: 71% of respondents ask for price caps in hawker centres Are hawker centre prices getting out of hand? According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, hawker food prices rose by 6.1% in 2023 – surpassing the 5.7% in 2022. As high cost of living continue to plague Singaporeans, many rely on hawker food to remain affordable. In a poll on Answers.sg with 1,887 respondents, 71% voted that food at hawker centres should have price caps.   However, price caps may not be as simple a solution as most may think, according to some hawkers who spoke to MS News. Singaporeans say hawker centres are getting more expensive Hawker centres are a vital part of Singapore’s culture and an essential part of most people’s lives. In 2020, the hawker culture in Singapore was officially inscribed into the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. They reflect our heritage and celebrate multiculturalism, while also being Singaporeans’ go-to options for affordable food. This is certainly the case for 26-year-old J. Tay, who is a regular patron of the coffeeshop near his HDB home. Noting the results of the poll, he told MS News that price caps “sound reasonable”.

The Penang division of Parti Se-Malaysia (PAS) is calling upon the state government to cancel a Songkran event scheduled to be held this weekend. According to the event poster, the event will be held at Batu Ferringhi on Apr 12 and 13 from 4pm till late night, with tickets priced between RM60 and RM120 per person. In a statement by PAS Penang Information Chief and Permatang Pauh MP Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan, he said while Malaysia does not prohibit entertainment-based programs, such events must adhere to existing procedures and regulations. Penang PAS expresses disappointment over the dissemination of this event’s advertisement, which has offended Malaysians. “Malaysians, who are rich in noble values and Eastern manners, feel challenged by the organisation of this program,” he said. Muhammad Fawwaz emphasised that promoting the hedonistic culture excessively and displaying a lack of decorum should not be permitted, let alone celebrated. “A lifestyle that is modeled after the West will lead to the erosion of values in society. The state government and Penang City Council (MBPP) must cancel this program as well as prevent any other events that do not comply with proper standards, especially those that clearly involve elements of immorality.” Muhammad Fawwaz’s remarks were immediately called out by Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, who pointed out that his statement were at odds with what PAS did in Kedah. In a lengthy statement, she wrote the Kedah state government had allowed a Songkran festival to be held as a way to promote local tourism. While Penang PAS claims the moral high ground, their counterparts in Kedah—under the same party—recently supported and even promoted Songkran as part of the state’s tourism strategy. “In April 2024, the Kedah state government proudly collaborated with local communities to host a state-level Songkran celebration, recognising its cultural and economic value,” she said. Syerleena added the Songkran festival has never been an issue before and should remain the same today. She also slammed PAS for unnecessarily stirring up controversy just to score political points among supporters. “This inconsistency reveals a dangerous pattern: exploiting cultural issues to provoke division and score political points. It’s not about values—it’s about control. “Malaysia’s strength lies in its diversity. Our multicultural landscape is a testament to the beauty of different communities coexisting peacefully. “Targeting cultural celebrations like Songkran not only infringes upon the rights of our fellow citizens, but also contradicts the very essence of what it means to be Malaysian,” she wrote. This isn’t the first time PAS has voiced opposition to similar events, with one notable example being Blackpink’s concert back in 2023. https://weirdkaya.com/pas-mp-calls-for-song...Vf3NkkN9tNQ4NTg

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