For Cosplayers who want to perform & sell overseas please take note about having proper license/ permit before going.
Also don't support that guy's event anymore, simple as that. No one would be in a mess if it wasn't for him trying to skim corners.
[Awareness Post for ppl who perform Overseas]
Please check with the event organiser whether they have applied the permit for u to perform in their country despite u r getting paid or not.
Otherwise, you might end up in JAIL...
Heard that u should get a performer pass/visa from the respective embassies.
PLS DO CHECK BEFORE YOU GO OVERSEAS TO PERFORM.
I would not want anyone to have a same experience I had.
I’m not gonna go too much in details but just to share my experience.
HOBBY TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE.
-Day1, 23 MAR 2019-
Right after my performance, lots of immigration officers raid the event.
Was handcuffed without even knowing what happened.
In the end only the foreigners got arrested.
Total 11 of us were captured in Malaysia.(5JPN, 3SIN, 2THA, 1HKG)
Informed that we have no proper permit to perform and the permit suppose to be prepared by the organiser.
None of us were aware of it. It’s just a hobby and I wasn’t paid for this.
We transferred to immigration room and set on the floor waiting for the officers to fill up some forms. They confiscated our handphone and there is no way for us to contact outside world.
(We managed to use our phone to contact our family right before we hand it out)
We were only allowed to have 1 top(shirt), 1 bottom (pants) and of course bra and underwear for female and that’s it. The rest are kept by them.
We were put into a cubicle, no windows, all tgt abt 30 females. We slept on a concrete floor squeezing each other, the room were super packed with humans. There were even baby, kids and some pregnant women too.
-Day2, 24 MAR 2019-
Woke up with back pain sleeping on the concrete floor and realised Pee, Poop, shower, wash clothes all in 1 place with just 1 tab. Luckily it’s clean water and no bugs in that area. We had basic 3 meals in a day (8am, 2pm, 8pm) in the same cubicle with same 30pax+ No cutleries, eat with hands.
Sunday is off day for immigration therefore we had no help.
-Day3, 25 MAR 2019-
We were called up to give statement, to tell the officers what exactly happened to us and they told us that they are trying to help us get out. Took all of our finger prints, pictures etc... As of like we are criminals...
-Day4, 26 MAR 2019-
Seems like u can meet up with ur family/ relative on TUE and THU and I met my auntie and she told me to stay strong and everyone is backing us up, family, friends, Lawyers, each country’s embassy etc...
We all stayed strong. But we still do not know when we will be released. No information given.
-Day5, 27 MAR 2019-
Nothing much happened. What we usually do whole day? Ppl in the jail were nice to everyone. Some of them from Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam etc... I believe they are not criminals but they had their own visa issue for entering/staying in Malaysia. They told us that other jail is worse. Although we had communication difficulties, we all become like friends, as we all share same toilet and sometimes they come in to pee or poop while u r showering. Playing with the baby and 2 yrs old kids made us smile.
-Day6, 28 MAR 2019-
My mom just came back from HK to SG, and she came to M’sia immediately to see me. We chatted through a fence which we can only touch each other’s finger. But it’s a relief for both of us and she definitely gave me power knowing that Lawyers and embassies are backing us up. And they are doing their best. We prayed hard that we can get out ASAP. Before we are mentally broken down.
-Day7, 29 MAR 2019-
Around 10am, We had good news that we can be released only by the embassy consulate.
We (the detainees) were over joyed and hugged each other with tears, although we wore same underwear for 7days and clothes for that matter.
All of the above is just my personal experience and thoughts. There are so much more things to tell but this is just a summery.
There are so much friendship and helping each other among the 11 ppl who were detained this time and tough situation that we all went through tgt.
Not only the detainees but our family, friends, Lawyers, our country embassy representatives are all involved trying their best to get us out from the situation ASAP!
Idk how much more I can thank everyone.
Especially my Mom and Dad although both of them were overseas for work, BFFs (and his mom), my girls (aka group members), Personal Lawyer, and Japan embassy rep.
I would never want to experience this in my life. It’s too scary, stressful and definitely it left a scar.
It is an unforgettable and unforgivable incidence that none of the innocent performer should experience.
Please be careful, always have to check the necessary documentation for foreigner, when u r overseas.
DON’T GIVE UP YOUR PASSION.
Cheers.
