In a recent incident in Shah Alam, Selangor, an e-hailing ride took an unexpected turn when a passenger decided to exit a moving vehicle, raising concerns and prompting a police investigation. However, the case has now been classified as “No Further Action” after it was revealed that the incident occurred due to a misunderstanding.

According to Malay Mail, Shah Alam’s police chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim, shared that the 31-year-old female passenger, employed as a waitress for a catering company in Denai Alam, had booked an e-hailing ride on September 27 at 9:30 am. She boarded the vehicle at the Glenmarie LRT station, aiming to reach her workplace.

During the trip, the passenger, seated in the rear, requested a cash payment from the 26-year-old e-hailing driver. The driver, who was later identified to have a hearing impairment, did not respond to the request, which caused concern for the passenger. She observed the driver frequently glancing at her through the rear-view mirror.

Worried about her safety, the passenger decided to exit the vehicle while it was moving slowly along Jalan Temasya. Fortunately, she did not sustain any injuries during this incident. Later that day, at 7:23 pm, she lodged a police complaint regarding the incident.

However, further investigations revealed that the e-hailing driver was a person with disabilities, specifically hearing impairment, marked as OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya). He had recently begun working as an e-hailing driver on September 26, 2023, and the complainant was his third customer on the day of the incident.

The driver explained that the confusion arose because he was new to the job and took a wrong route, attempting to make a U-turn on Jalan Temasya. Coincidentally, at the same time, the passenger had opened the car door to exit the vehicle. The driver continued the journey as he had another customer awaiting service.

Consequently, the case was deemed a misunderstanding, and the complaint was withdrawn by the passenger, leading to the classification of “No Further Action.” Authorities have urged the public to refrain from hastily spreading information on social media and other platforms to prevent the dissemination of false news. This incident serves as a reminder to ensure clear communication and understanding between e-hailing drivers and passengers, particularly in situations involving individuals with special needs.