He said that his cough was caused by a dirty car.

Grab Driver Kicks Passenger Out Over Coughing Incident

A recent TikTok post has sparked outrage among Singaporeans, revealing a shocking encounter between a passenger and his Grab driver. The passenger, Rizman Salesh, shared his experience of being unceremoniously kicked out of the car for simply coughing. Yes, you read that right—coughing!

The Incident Unfolds

On Sunday, October 1, Rizman woke up early, ready to head to his nephew’s wedding. He booked a Grab from Tampines, expecting a smooth ride to City Plaza on Geylang Road. However, things took a turn when the driver, who Rizman described as dirty and frequently coughing, abruptly told him to get out a few blocks before their destination.

When Rizman questioned why, the driver allegedly replied that he didn’t want to go to Geylang. Rizman pointed out that his coughing was severe, and he had kept his mask on throughout the ride, even though mask-wearing is no longer mandatory for private-hire vehicle passengers since August 29.

A Frustrating Experience

The situation escalated quickly. The driver stopped the car, stalled the engine, and insisted that Rizman leave the vehicle. This unexpected turn of events made Rizman late for his nephew’s wedding. To add insult to injury, the driver marked the trip as complete on his app, despite kicking Rizman out halfway.

After the incident, Rizman managed to hail another cab from Bedok Reservoir MRT station. He later filed a complaint with Grab and requested a reimbursement, but as of now, the ride-hailing service has yet to respond.

Public Reaction

Many netizens sympathized with Rizman, suggesting that the driver might have been smoking in the car prior to picking him up, given the residue left on the floor. Some even argued that the driver should have rolled down the windows if Rizman was coughing.

In another related incident, a man named Enzo Sean took to social media to complain about a Grab driver who refused to take him to the hospital after he sustained minor injuries. The driver suggested calling an ambulance instead, stating he was not permitted to transport injured passengers. Interestingly, many netizens sided with the driver, expressing concerns about having blood in their personal vehicles.

Lessons Learned

This unfortunate series of events serves as a reminder for all of us. We need to be more mindful and look out for one another, especially when using ride-hailing services. It’s essential to stay aware of our surroundings and approach situations with empathy and understanding.

For more on this story, check out the full article on AsiaOne.