Grab apologises after driver accused of sexually harassing female passenger in Johor
Ride-hailing firm Grab has apologised after a video allegedly showing a driver sexually harassing a female passenger in Johor went viral, prompting an investigation by both the company and police.
- Grab says it is investigating after a driver was accused of sexually harassing a female passenger during a ride in Johor Bahru.
- The victim’s family said the incident left her traumatised and in tears.
- A school later confirmed the accused man, believed to be a teacher, has been told to stop reporting for duty pending investigations.
MALAYSIA: Ride-hailing company Grab has issued an apology following widespread online outrage over a viral video allegedly showing one of its drivers sexually harassing a female passenger in Johor Bahru.
In a comment posted under a related news video, Grab said it was deeply sorry over the incident and stressed that it takes such matters seriously.
“We are deeply sorry that this incident occurred and fully recognise its seriousness. This should never have happened,” the company said.
“We are aware of the complaint and are actively reaching out to the affected passenger to conduct investigations and provide appropriate support. We will take action in accordance with our policies.”
Viral Video Sparks Outrage
The incident came to light after a video circulated on social media on Sunday night, showing a driver repeatedly stretching his hand towards the back seat, allegedly attempting to touch a female passenger’s legs and hands.
In the video, the driver was also heard repeatedly asking the woman about her age, whether she could speak Chinese, and even asking how much her rent was — remarks that appeared to make the passenger visibly uncomfortable.
Victim Left Traumatised
According to the original post, the victim is the poster’s younger sister, who had taken a ride-hailing car from Austin Heights to R&F Princess Cove in Johor Bahru.
The poster said the alleged harassment caused the woman to break down in tears during the ride. After reaching home, she reportedly locked herself in her room and continued crying, leaving her family deeply worried about her emotional state.
The family has since lodged a complaint with Grab and said they plan to accompany the victim to the police station to file a report once she is emotionally ready.
Police Yet to Receive Formal Report
Johor Bahru South district police chief ACP Raub Selamat said in a statement that police had not yet received an official report related to the case but confirmed that investigations were underway to identify the individuals involved.
Suspect Identified as School Teacher
In a related development, Chen Guan Teck, chairman of the board of directors of a Chinese primary school in Johor Jaya, confirmed to Sin Chew Daily that the male teacher allegedly involved has not reported for work since Tuesday.
Chen said the school had already submitted a report to the Johor State Education Department and, after discussions with the teacher, decided that he should take leave pending further instructions from the authorities.
He also confirmed that the teacher had lodged a police report at the Taman Pelangi police station on Monday.
“We are currently awaiting instructions from the education department,” Chen said, adding that school operations continued as normal and that no students were absent due to the incident.
Ongoing Investigations
Both Grab and the authorities have said they are treating the matter seriously. The case has reignited public discussion on passenger safety, particularly for women using ride-hailing services, and calls for stricter screening and enforcement measures against errant drivers.
Investigations are ongoing.
