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Woman books private-hire ride in JB, driver allegedly turns up in underwear
He allegedly only wore a shirt after they told him to do so.
January 30, 2026, 02:30 PM
A group of passengers were shocked when they boarded a private-hire vehicle in Johor Bahru (JB) — only to find the driver in his underwear.
Their ordeal was shared on the Instagram page sgfollowsall on Jan. 29.
The passenger claimed that the incident, which happened on Jan. 28 at around 11:47pm, occurred on a ride that they booked via Taxi Maxim, a ride-hailing app.
"When the car arrived, and I got in, we realised that the male driver was not properly dressed — he was only wearing underwear," the passenger said.
"As all of us were women, we felt extremely uncomfortable and scared."
The passenger said her mother asked the driver to put on his shirt, which he did.
However, he was still not wearing any pants, she alleged.
A photo shared by the woman showed the driver clad in a light purple T-shirt, with his legs bare.
"This incident made us feel unsafe, and we believe it’s important to warn other women, especially those travelling alone or heading to JB, to please be extra careful when taking ride-hailing services," she said.
She added that this was her first time using Maxim.
Driver blocked from app
In response to Mothership's queries, Maxim Malaysia said they have taken immediate action to block the driver once the complaint was received with evidence.
The driver no longer has access to the app and cannot return to the platform, they said.
Maxim also contacted the passengers to provide assistance and gather more information.
"Any behaviour that compromises passenger safety, comfort, or dignity is strictly not tolerated. The safety and well-being of our passengers is always our priority," they said.
They added:
"Passengers are strongly encouraged to report any issues encountered during a trip directly via the Maxim application, so that matters can be addressed swiftly and appropriate action can be taken.
The Maxim app is also equipped with in-app safety features, including an SOS button and live GPS location tracking, to enhance passenger safety throughout the journey.
Maxim remains committed to maintaining the highest service standards and continuously reviewing our safety protocols to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all users."
Taxi Maxim
Taxi Maxim is an international ride-hailing company that operates in over 20 countries, including Malaysia.
Maxim Malaysia was previously ordered to cease operations in July 2025 after the country's Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) found the company operating without the required e-Hailing Vehicle Permit (EVP).
In December 2025, the company received a final approval letter from APAD to continue its e-hailing operations nationwide, after having complied with all regulatory requirements.
Top photos from sgfollowsall/Instagram
