As if BMW drivers don’t have a bad enough reputation, am I right?
While Singapore and Malaysia have a constant friendly rivalry over food and currency rates, we are always one straw way from racism-filled arguments.
And I appreciate that the victim here, named Sumisha, made an effort to “not make it about race”.
The Chope Culture
Singaporeans love to chope stuff.
How many times have you been teased with an empty table at a kopitiam, only to see that there’s a pack of tissue on it?
But of course, you respect it. It’s our culture, and it’s just a table.
But you’d think these people would refrain from such behaviour overseas, especially when it involves a parking lot.
Parking Spot Chope-ing
In a series of tweets by Malaysian journalist Sumisha Naidu, she exposed how a Singaporean BMW driver sent a group of people to chope a parking spot in front of the Cow Brown Kafe in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and prevent her from using it.
I don’t usually do this. But since they sent a guy to come & intimidate me after I will. These guys ran ahead to a parking spot & chopped it and refused to allow me to park. “If you don’t move, you’ll cause a jam,” they said indignantly when I said you can’t chop parking 🤦🏾♀️ pic.twitter.com/pESfj78ftZ
— Sumisha Naidu (@sumishanaidu) August 11, 2019
Sounds ridiculous, right?
They even attempted to intimidate her and chase her off by claiming she’ll cause her a jam if she doesn’t move away.
As the Chinese saying goes, 恶人先告状.
Translation: The wicked complains first
They then made a note of MY number plate and said “whatever” when I asked why they were looking into my car, only walking off when I took a photo. https://t.co/mfERfx1frU
— Sumisha Naidu (@sumishanaidu) August 11, 2019
They also took a photo of her car for some reason.
Who are they gonna complain to? Unless they mean to send thugs after her like in movies.
They only budged when Sumisha took a photo of them in return, possibly afraid of social media backlash.
Well, a little too late.
After noticing that it was a Singaporean car, she noted the chope culture that’s pretty prominent in our country.
Do you chop parking in Singapore? That might explain it. https://t.co/mfERfx1frU
— Sumisha Naidu (@sumishanaidu) August 11, 2019
Thank you guys for the support and shared outrage but
• let’s not make it about race
• was not aware it was a Singaporean car when I tweeted (“blinded” by rage 😂) – but yes, I know not all Singaporeans are like this
• ”chope” or “cop” might have been the better spelling 🤓— Sumisha Naidu (@sumishanaidu) August 11, 2019
However, as I said earlier, she states that not all Singaporeans are the same and she doesn’t wish to make it about race.
In case you think otherwise, it’s not just a d*ck move, it’s illegal.
And PSA. It IS illegal to chope/ chop/ cop a parking space. https://t.co/D7Hksw4N3R
— Sumisha Naidu (@sumishanaidu) August 11, 2019
And Sumisha very kindly states it outright.
If you’re thinking about doing this in Singapore or anywhere else, please don’t.
Not the first time?
While reading this piece of news, you may find it kind of familiar.
This isn’t the first time someone has tried to chope a parking spot using an actual human.
Detailed in an article here by my colleague, a woman not only tried to chope the parking spot but also flipped a finger to the driver.
Singaporeans, am I right?
Oh, it’s not just Singaporeans?
You may remember this video going viral on social media a while back.
Well, let’s just say I would love to drive over them into the parking spot.
Just kidding, don’t stoop to their levels, and don’t commit any crimes in a fit of rage.
But seriously, just don’t anyhow chope things. Not cool.
Or you’ll just end up chope-ing a spot in jail.
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
