
Indonesian mum recalls ‘scary' moment son was allegedly hit with bottle in Singapore
A five-year-old
Indonesian boy was allegedly struck on the head with a wine bottle by a stranger in
Singapore – an incident that has prompted Indonesian media outlets and social media users to question personal safety in the city state, long regarded as one of the world's safest travel destinations.
The incident occurred on June 20 in Singapore's Arab Street district, a popular tourist area, as the family was seated outside a coffee shop shortly before attending Friday prayers at the nearby Sultan Mosque.
'From my left side, there was a [man] carrying a glass bottle of wine and immediately hit my child on the head from behind,' said Winda, the boy's mother, who is from Jakarta and asked that her surname not be published. 'It happened very quickly. Then my husband pushed the man until he fell.'
The boy began crying and vomiting after the impact, Winda said. Passers-by helped the family and escorted them inside the café while awaiting police assistance. During that time, Winda said the man tried to 'pull a knife out of his bag'.
'I never would have imagined that something this scary would happen,' Winda said. 'A random person who has no reason to hate us can do something so horrible.'
Her older son was 'scared and angry' upon witnessing the attack on his brother, Winda said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Mount Rinjani tragedy puts spotlight on Indonesia's adventure tourism safety
The death of a Brazilian woman who fell while climbing a volcano in Indonesia has renewed scrutiny of safety standards at the country's adventure tourism hotspots, amid a string of recent accidents involving foreign visitors. Juliana Marins, 26, fell some 600 metres (1,968 feet) while attempting to summit Mount Rinjani, a volcano on Lombok island, on Saturday. Her body was only recovered four days later after rescue efforts were hampered by dense fog, steep cliffs and unstable terrain. The incident, which drew widespread attention in Brazil and on social media, is among several recent fatalities that have prompted calls for improved risk management at Indonesia's ecotourism destinations. Mount Rinjani, one of Indonesia's most popular trekking destinations, has seen several serious accidents in the past year. In May, a Malaysian tourist died after falling into a ravine. In late September, climbers near the summit required rescue after a severe fall, followed days later by a Russian man who fell 200 metres while climbing illegally and sustained severe injuries. Juliana Marins, 26, was climbing Mount Rinjani on Lombok island on June 21, 2025, when she fell about 600 metres. Her body was found four days later. Photo: Instagram / ajulianamarins Marins' family expressed frustration over the pace of rescue efforts, claiming she could have survived if help had reached her sooner. 'Juliana suffered severe neglect by the rescue team. Juliana would still be alive if the team had gotten to her within the estimated time of 7 hours,' her family wrote on Instagram, where a memorial account has drawn more than one million followers.


South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Bali official calls for swift deportation of unruly foreigners amid crime concerns
Calls for tougher penalties and swift deportations are mounting in Bali, as local leaders warn that a rise in offences by foreign visitors risks damaging the Indonesian island's international reputation. Komang Nova Sewi Putra, deputy chairman of Bali's legislative council, said the time had come for decisive action against tourists who violate the law or flout local customs, including immediate deportation. 'If we were abroad in a fight, we would immediately deport them. Why isn't it implemented in Bali? Once caught, deport them. The effect is to make Bali safe,' Putra was quoted as saying during a council meeting on Tuesday, according to the Bali Sun. The remarks came amid growing frustration among local leaders over what they view as insufficient immigration enforcement and rising disorder among foreign visitors. Putra urged authorities to strengthen visa oversight and more clearly distinguish between legitimate travellers and those causing problems. Australian national Nelson James is escorted by police during a press conference at a station in Badung, Bali, on June 14. He was arrested for alleged drug possession. Photo: EPA-EFE 'Find out who has a work visa, who is just on vacation, who is just causing trouble. That must be clear,' he said. Police data shows 108 criminal cases involving foreign suspects were recorded between January 1 and June 21 this year, with most involving assault and fraud.


South China Morning Post
13 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Cyberjaya murder: student killing in Malaysia tech hub fuels calls for safer dorms
The brutal murder of a 20-year-old university student in her dormitory has renewed scrutiny on safety lapses in Cyberjaya, a township hailed in the 1990s as Malaysia's Silicon Valley but now notorious for crime. Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, a University of Cyberjaya undergraduate, was found dead on Tuesday due to blunt force trauma to the head, Sepang district police said on Thursday. 'Investigation at the scene found no signs of forced entry into the victim's residence. Further examination of the victim's body revealed injuries to the head,' said district police chief Norhizam Bahaman. The autopsy did not find signs of rape, he added, refuting claims widely circulated on social media that she had been sexually assaulted before being killed. There is a manhunt out for several suspects in the murder, with police saying they are close to making arrests. Her murder has once again turned the spotlight on the reputation of the city of 140,000 as a hotbed of crime. Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara. Photo: Handout Conceived as a twin to the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya, Cyberjaya was meant to anchor the country's digital ambitions. While those early hopes faded, the area is now undergoing a revival, driven by a surge in data centre projects under the government's push to position Malaysia as a regional digital infrastructure hub.