JOHOR BARU: A 54-year-old ehailing driver has no choice but to put his job and income on hold after receiving threats and harassment due to a misunderstanding with a passenger.
The driver, who only wanted to be known as Wong, said he started receiving anonymous calls from people who threatened him as well as getting a slew of negative comments on social media after an Aug 11 incident.
“It all started when I picked up a 17-year-old girl at a residential area here. She ordered a ride to a hypermarket in Tampoi but due to some roadworks along the way, I had to change my route.
“When she asked me why I took that road, I told her about the roadworks… as I was reconfirming with her about her destination, she opened the car door and jumped out of the moving vehicle,” he told a press conference organised by the MCA Youth public service and complaints bureau here on Sunday (Aug 25).
Wong said he immediately stopped his vehicle at the side of the road to help the girl, who was also assisted by a family from a car behind them.
The girl suffered from minor injuries and was sent to a private hospital nearby by the family in the other vehicle, he said, adding that he reported the incident to the police and ehailing company.
“I thought the matter was resolved after that but my nightmare had just begun, as photos of myself, and my car with the registration number made rounds on social media with claims that I wanted to abduct the girl.
“The photos and allegations were shared in various Facebook groups to the point that the ehailing company suspended my account for three days from Aug 15 until Aug 18. I had to lodge another police report about the harassment I faced.
“It is quite stressful because whenever I go out in my car, people would take photos of my vehicle and post them online. I am constantly harassed online and in person,” he said.
He also claimed that he received calls from people who identified themselves as the passenger’s relatives, asking to meet up in person but he refused for fear of his own safety.
“It has also affected my job as people are refusing to get into my car. I have had no income since then as this is my full-time job.
“The police had already issued a statement saying that it was all a misunderstanding and that no criminal element was found in the incident. Please, stop harassing me,” he pleaded.
Wong said prior to being an ehailing driver, he was a taxi driver for more than 30 years, adding that this was the first time he had encountered such an incident.
He added that he was also traumatised and shocked that a passenger jumped out of his vehicle.
Meanwhile, MCA Youth public service and complaints bureau chief Heng Zhi Li urged the public to stop sharing photos and allegations against Wong as the police had already stated that the incident was a misunderstanding.
He added that MCA would assist Wong in lodging a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as he was being cyberbullied.
On Aug 18, Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Balveer Singh said the teenager suffered minor injuries after jumping out of a moving vehicle as a result of a misunderstanding with the ehailing driver.
“The driver lodged a police report after the incident and also informed the ehailing company. The teenager also lodged a police report.
“Investigations found there was no criminal element involved,” ACP Balveer said, adding that ehailing drivers should improve their communication with their passengers if they need to take an alternative route.
