Kota Kinabalu: Johor Bahru North District Police have urged e-hailing drivers to inform their passengers when taking alternative routes after a teenager jumped out of a Grab car, fearing a kidnapping.
The police chief, ACP Balveer Singh, said the Grab driver, a local man, had picked up the passenger, a local, from a residence and was scheduled to drop her off at a mall.
He said the driver was forced to change the route due to road maintenance.
“The passenger, noticing the deviation from the expected route, jumped out of the moving vehicle,” he said in the press release published on Facebook.
SPONSORED CONTENT Hajiji says young business professionals' inputs needed to develop Sabah Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he welcomed inputs from young business professionals to assist in policy formulation. Read more The incident had previously gained widespread attention after a viral social media post on X claimed that the Grab driver had turned off the location tracking on the app.
However, the police report indicated that the driver immediately stopped to offer assistance, but by then, the passenger had already been taken to the hospital by the public.
“The driver later filed a police report regarding the incident and also notified Grab about the situation. The passenger also lodged a report with the authorities,” Balveer said.
The police concluded that there was no criminal activity involved in this case but offered a piece of advice for both e-hailing drivers and passengers.
“It is recommended that transportation service drivers communicate with passengers when a detour is needed.
“If a suspicious or unexpected situation arises, it is recommended to communicate with the driver or involved parties for clarification.
“If you still feel unsafe, contact the police immediately.
“Remember, your safety is our priority, and with cooperation and good communication, misunderstandings and undesirable situations can be avoided."
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