News of 50 cabbies attack Uber driver not true, says police

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh today has brushed off rumours circulating on social media that a group of 50 taxi drivers attacked an Uber car driver on Monday.

Instead, commotion only occurred between a taxi driver and an Uber car driver in which a 44-year-old suspect had been detained in Taman Selayang Utama, Batu Caves at 11.15 pm last night, he said.

"The suspect was alleged to have kicked the Uber car before dragging out a tourist and had a quarrel with the Uber driver.

"The Uber driver, however, did not come forward to lodge any (police) report on the incident. Thus, we ask the driver to do so," he told a press conference here today.

The incident had attracted attention after it was spread on the social media that an Uber car carrying a couple, who were Iranian tourists, was attacked by a group of 50 taxi drivers in KL Sentral at noon.

The rumours also claimed that the window of the car was smashed and one of the tourists sustained injury after being dragged out from the car by the large group of taxi drivers.

Amar Singh also denied allegations that the window was smashed and said the 43-year-old Iranian woman was actually a student at a local university in Skudai, Johor and not a tourist.

"She arrived at KL Sentral with her son. The injury on her thumb occurred when the suspect was taking out her luggage," he said.

Amar Singh said the case was now being investigated under Section 323 and 506 of the Penal Code.

Therefore, the police advised the parties involved not to take the law into their own hands.

Instead they could lodge their complaints to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).