KUALA LUMPUR: A group of foreign students were left shaken after a distressing encounter with an e-hailing driver who angrily confronted them over the use of vouchers.
In a TikTok video shared by user @a.b7_m, the students are seen in the vehicle when the driver launched into a tirade, insisting that being an e-hailing driver does not equate to a lack of education. She demanded that the students "mind their bloody language" during the exchange.
The situation escalated as the driver shouted at the students to "get out now," repeating the demand multiple times and accusing them of lacking manners. She claimed they had made her wait excessively to enter the car, although one of the students clarified that the wait had only been five minutes.
The driver responded with repeated shouts for him to "shut up" as the group discussed their options in their native language.
Tensions mounted as the driver continued to insist that the students had made her wait, while they argued that their wait time was minimal. They asserted their status as paying customers, yet the driver insisted they exit the vehicle immediately.
When they protested, she threatened to call the police, continuing to shout for them to leave until they finally complied.
The video concluded with the driver's details displayed, as the students explained in the caption that e-hailing drivers are permitted a waiting time of five minutes. They arrived after just two minutes and noted that their booking was for a vehicle with four seats, despite the driver's demand for them to book for six.
The foreign student expressed his frustration, stating that as students, they could not afford such a fare.
He highlighted that this type of treatment is a common experience for foreign students in Malaysia and tagged several news outlets and the e-hailing company for potential action.
The video has since gone viral, prompting a flurry of reactions from netizens.
User @maydee575 suggested that the driver should have driven straight to the police station to resolve the issue, while @jamuna_silbarajoo remarked that the e-hailing company's driver and customer service are "getting worse."
However, some users sided with the driver. @jacobssk1905 argued that the students made the driver wait, giving her the right to be angry, while @nazri.kurosaki contended that since the driver asked them to get out, they should have complied.
User @nasrannnnnnnnn commented that the public needs to hear both sides of the story, suggesting that the driver's anger might not solely stem from the voucher issue.