Answering previous replies.

Yes, nothing worked for last 1.5 years due to the various reasons but mainly because inability to get coordinated vacation schedule for me and my wife.

This July we plan to go to SIN-KL-Langkawi-Penang-SIN for 10 days. Extensive research has been done, all flights/accommodations are already booked and taken care of. We already have been in KL for two days last year, so we are somehow familiar with the environment.

We've been last year in Bintan Island which is just across Singapore, but it was resort with beach. This time we want to go somewhere in a 'real' environment.

As part of be afraid - not really, just to know and be aware what to expect. Being informed would help in any situation. But in any case - I just wanted (and want) to avoid going in places where there is higher probability to get into trouble - comparing to other places in region. Recent case of kidnapping tourists for ransom in Borneo is another warning.