Missing, harassed, or harmed: The perils of e-hailing services
From missing persons to tragic crimes, these cases have triggered public debate about whether enough is being done to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers.
SHAH ALAM - The convenience of hailing a ride with just a tap on a phone has become part of daily life for both passengers and drivers.
However, along with this ease, safety concerns have increasingly come to the forefront, raising questions about the protection of all involved.
In recent years, several high-profile incidents have highlighted the risks associated with e-hailing services.
From missing persons to tragic crimes, these cases have triggered public debate about whether enough is being done to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers.
Below are some notable incidents that have raised safety concerns and shaken public confidence in e-hailing services.
Missing Person Case
A 14-year-old girl, Safiea Dania Muhamad Zakri was reported missing on April 24 at around 6.45pm while using an e-hailing service to get to work.
Her mother filed a police report on April 26. According to Ipoh District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad, Safiea's last known location was Lot 60630, Jalan Intan, Kampung Dato' Ahmad Said, Ipoh, at 6.35 pm.
Safiea had initially left with her brother, but when their vehicle broke down, her brother advised her to use an e-hailing service to reach work.
She was last seen wearing a long-sleeved purple top, black pants, and a black headscarf. Safiea was 159cm tall, weighs 56 kg, and has shoulder-length purple hair and fair skin.
Sexual Harassment Case
In another incident, an e-hailing driver was fined RM3,500 for attempting to molest a female passenger in Melaka.
The Ayer Keroh Magistrate’s Court sentenced 20-year-old Muhammad Syahmi Iman Muhazam after he pleaded guilty to molesting a 22-year-old woman earlier this year.
The incident occurred on February 5, at around 10.21am, near the Alor Gajah-Melaka Tengah-Jasin (AMJ) road.
Syahmi was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine, or whipping. The Deputy Public Prosecutor sought a fitting punishment, while the defence lawyer requested leniency, citing it as the driver’s first offence and that he had shown remorse.
The court imposed an RM3,500 fine, with a six-month jail sentence if the fine was not paid.
Stabbing Case Involving an E-hailing Driver
A stabbing case involving an e-hailing driver has further raised concerns about safety.
In 2022, police arrested a man suspected of stabbing and robbing an e-hailing driver within 24 hours of the crime, despite the suspect attempting to avoid recognition by cutting his hair.
According to Sentul police, the 47-year-old driver, a Malaysian Volunteer Corps (Rela) member, was attacked in the neck with a sharp object after picking up the suspect in Putrajaya.
The suspect fled with the victim’s vehicle and personal belongings but was later caught at a car wash while attempting to clean bloodstains from the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect had no prior criminal record and committed the crime in a bid to become an e-hailing driver himself.
Negligence Case
Negligence has also been a concern in e-hailing services. In a recent incident, the police have confirmed receiving a report regarding a viral video showing two cyclists being hit from behind by a car on Jalan Dengkil, Kota Warisan.
According to Sepang police, the incident occurred around 7.15am when the driver was distracted by checking a message from an e-hailing app on his phone.
The car, travelling in the left lane from Kajang to KLIA, hit the first cyclist, causing him to collide with another cyclist.
While both the car and bicycles were damaged, no severe injuries were reported.
Wan Kamarul added that both the driver and one of the cyclists filed police reports.
Though there were no passengers in the car at the time, the accident could have caused trauma had there been any.
In a separate incident, an e-hailing passenger from Bangladesh was killed in a collision with a lorry in Klang this July.
The local driver, who was transporting two passengers, was injured, while one of the passengers was trapped in the backseat and died at the scene.
These incidents have stressed the importance of ensuring stricter safety measures and regulations within the e-hailing industry to better protect passengers and drivers.
