JOHOR BARU: A 54-year-old ehailing driver has been receiving threats and harassment following 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 to harm him after the Aug 11 incident. He was also getting a slew of negative comments on social media.
“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 why I took that road, I told her about the roadworks.
“As I was reconfirming her destination, she opened the car door and jumped out of the moving vehicle,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.
It was organised by the MCA Youth public service and complaints bureau.
Wong said he then 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 minor injuries and was sent to a private hospital nearby by the family, Wong said, adding that he reported the incident to the police and ehailing company.
“I thought the matter was resolved but my nightmare had just begun. Photos of myself and my car with the registration number made the 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 till 18.
“I had to lodge another police report about the harassment.
“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 it was all a misunderstanding with no criminal elements found in the case. 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 where a passenger had jumped out of his vehicle.
Wong said he was also traumatised by what had transpired.
Meanwhile, MCA Youth public service and complaints bureau chief Heng Zhi Li urged the public to stop sharing photos and allegations against Wong, saying the police had already stated that the incident was a misunderstanding.
He said MCA would assist Wong in lodging a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as he was being cyberbullied.
