M'sia deaf ride-hailing driver sues police & govt after he allegedly got punched & pressured to withdraw assault report

A deaf e-hailing driver in Malaysia recently filed a civil suit against the country's police and government over the alleged mishandling of his police report about an assault.

According to the driver, Ong Ing Keong, a security escort punched him in the face without warning while he was picking up passengers at the St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 28, 2024, The New Straits Times reported.

After he made a police report about the incident, police officers pressured him to withdraw the report and delete the video footage of what happened, Ong claimed.

The assault

Ong alleged that at St Regis Hotel that day, several people ordered him to move his car while his passengers were getting on

Then, as he was about to drive off, a security escort dressed in plain clothes allegedly reached in through the open driver's window and punched him in the face.

The assault reportedly resulted in facial pain, soft tissue injuries, and bruising beneath his upper lip.

The incident was captured on video from Ong's dashboard camera.

The police report

The 48-year-old driver lodged a police report later that same day at Travers police station, before seeking treatment at a hospital, Free Malaysia Today reported.

When he went back to the station afterwards, officers allegedly took his phone and told him it would only be returned if he withdrew his police report and deleted the video from his dashboard camera.

Ong said that without his phone, he was left without his primary means of communication for several hours.

He was also not provided a sign language interpreter or translation assistance despite his disability, he added.

Allegedly asked to settle

A police officer at the station allegedly pressured him to settle the matter regarding the assault by accepting RM800 (S$253) in compensation.

Ong said he initially agreed out of fear that his phone would be permanently seized, but told the police the next day that he wished to proceed with the investigation.

The security escort involved ultimately pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to Ong.

On Nov. 4, 2024, he was fined RM1,000 (S$316) or 20 days in jail in default.

Suing police and government

On Jul. 10, 2026, Ong filed the civil suit at the Malaysia High Court against the security escort, the police officer who allegedly pressured him, the Kuala Lumpur police chief, the inspector-general of police, and the government.

He alleged that the police officer committed misfeasance in public office by allegedly attempting to coerce him into withdrawing his police report.

He is also suing the senior police officers and the government based on vicarious liability for the conduct of the officers who handled his case, according to Free Malaysia Today.

Ong also accused the police of breaching their statutory duties by not providing communication assistance to a deaf complainant and not properly investigating the reported offence.

His case will be heard at the High Court on Aug. 12.