Deaf e-hailing driver sues government, police over alleged assault, seeks disability access reforms

A DEAF e-hailing driver has sued the government and senior police officials over an alleged assault by a police outrider last year, seeking damages as well as court-ordered reforms to improve access for persons with disabilities.

In a writ and statement of claim filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 10, Ong Ing Keong named police officer Muhammad Taufik Ismail as the first defendant, along with another officer whom he alleged pressured him to withdraw a police report lodged shortly after the incident.

The suit also names the Malaysian government, the Kuala Lumpur police chief and the Inspector-General of Police as defendants.

Taufik, 34, was attached to the Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s convoy when the incident took place outside the St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 28, 2024.

The case sparked widespread public outrage after footage of the altercation circulated online. He was later charged with causing hurt and fined RM1,000 after pleading guilty.

Represented by law firm Daim & Gamany, Ong claims he was assaulted, subjected to negligence and misfeasance in public office, and that the defendants breached their statutory duties under the Police Act and the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008.

Besides seeking damages, Ong is asking the court to declare that the police failed to fulfil their legal obligations towards persons with disabilities.

He is also seeking a mandatory injunction requiring police stations nationwide to provide access to Malaysian Sign Language interpreters.

According to the statement of claim, Ong had arrived outside the St Regis Hotel to pick up a passenger when he was allegedly punched in the face by Muhammad Taufik without lawful justification or provocation.

The filing states that the incident left Ong with facial injuries and caused him significant emotional distress, including shock, fear, trauma and humiliation.

It added that the alleged assault took place in public and in the presence of his passenger.

Ong further alleges that he faced intimidation after lodging a police report at the Travers police station about an hour later.

He claims police officers confiscated his mobile phone and told him it would only be returned if he agreed to withdraw his police report and delete a video allegedly showing the assault.

The statement says Ong refused and repeatedly requested the return of his phone, but was made to wait alone for several hours without access to the device.

As a deaf person, Ong said the phone was essential for both his work as an e-hailing driver and his primary means of communication.

Being deprived of it left him fearful, anxious and under considerable stress, according to the court filing.

Ong also alleges that throughout his time at the police station, he was not provided with communication assistance such as a Malaysian Sign Language interpreter, transcription services or other interpretation facilities.

He contends that the failure to provide those accommodations breached Section 30 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, which guarantees access to communication for persons with disabilities.

The civil suit seeks damages, declaratory relief and court orders compelling the authorities to implement measures aimed at making police services more accessible to the deaf community and other persons with disabilities. – July 22, 2026