SHAH ALAM: A woman was forced to jump out of a moving car after making an escape from a suspected abduction attempt by an e-hailing driver.
The woman's employer, catering business owner, Ayuni Dean, 44, said that her worker had contacted her to inform her of the harrowing moment she was 'abducted' by an e-hailing driver.
"She (the worker) contacted me and told me that she had jumped out of the car and asked for help," she said.
Recounting the incident, Ayuni said it happened last Wednesday when her 30-year-old employee was on her way to an event in Glenmarie, here.
According to her, the employee named Neera had sent a WhatsApp message informing her that she was taking the Light Rail Transit (LRT) service because her car, which was parked, was blocked by other vehicles.
She said Neera took the Subang Jaya LRT train to Glenmarie before booking an e-hailing ride to the event venue, which was not far from the station.
"While in the car, Neera told the driver that she wanted to make a cash payment, but the man remained silent.
"Throughout the journey, she asked the same question repeatedly, but the driver just stared at her and stayed silent before taking her through a quiet lane and an empty building.
"Neera found it strange and asked where he was going, but the man remained silent, so she called 999 for help. Customer service officers asked her to turn on the speakerphone to talk to the man, but he remained silent and continued the journey.
"When they arrived at an empty building, the man slowed down as if to stop, and Neera immediately jumped out and ran to save herself," she told Harian Metro.
Ayuni said Neera then contacted her for help and sought assistance from nearby security guards.
Following the incident, Ayuni accompanied her employee to make a police report.
"I am thankful that Neera is safe and unharmed. I didn't expect the story to go viral on Facebook, and I hope it serves as a lesson to the public," she said.
Ayuni also advised e-hailing passengers to practise safety tips such as taking a photo of the vehicle before getting in and sharing driver information and live location with family members.
Meanwhile, Shah Alam district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim, when contacted, confirmed the incident and said an investigation was underway.
He stated that the police are actively trying to locate the e-hailing driver involved to assist in the investigation.