Woman sounds alarm after alleged molest during bus ride

JOHOR BARU: What was supposed to be a regular 90-minute journey back to her hometown turned into a nightmare for a 21year-old bus passenger, when she was allegedly molested by a fellow passenger during the trip on Sunday.

The victim, who works as an administration staff in Singapore, related her ordeal through Facebook. It occurred when she and 12 other passengers boarded an S&S International express bus bound for Batu Pahat that had departed from Larkin Sentral, Johor Baru at 5pm.

Calling herself Xin Yan on Facebook, she claimed in her police report that a 17-year-old male molested her when she fell asleep about 6pm, as the bus was nearing a rest area in Simpang Renggam.

She said she was seated in one of the back rows of the bus and the youth who harassed her was seated behind her.

At first, Xin Yan said, she felt someone touching her hips.

“When I turned around, the man looked away. I fell asleep after that.

“When we reached the Simpang Renggam rest area, I felt someone touching my breast.

“I was shocked when I saw the man, who had been sitting behind me, beside me.

“The man returned to his seat, but I stood up, went to him and shouted ‘Apa you buat?’ (What did you do?). He said he was adjusting the air conditioner,” said the woman in her report.

The woman informed the 51year-old bus driver and with the help of other passengers prevented the youth from alighting from the bus.

“When we reached the Air Hitam bus station, the man wanted to get off, but the driver and all the passengers didn’t let him,” she said.

However, the youth managed to escape through a rear emergency exit when the bus stopped in Parit Raja for another passenger to alight.

Fortunately, members of the public gave chase, nabbed the youth and took him to a police station.

Kluang police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Laham said the youth, who is from Kampung Parit Sameon in Parit Raja, was arrested and would be remanded until tomorrow to assist in investigations.

The case is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code for assault or use of criminal force against a person with intent to outrage modesty.

Meanwhile, S&S International Sdn Bhd’s Johor branch supervisor Zaidah Taib said the company was cooperating with the police.

“There were 13 passengers on board the bus that could accommodate 30 passengers.

“It was not full and passengers, including the arrested youth, could have sat anywhere. I was informed by the driver that the youth got on the bus at the last minute. He gave a wet and crumpled ticket to the driver.

“The driver asked him about the ticket and how it got crumpled so badly. The driver said he felt something was amiss about the youth,” Zaidah told the New Straits Times.

She said it was the first time this kind of incident had occurred and promised that the driver would also give his cooperation to the police.

Xin Yan’s story has since gone viral, with Netizens expressing disgust at the way she was victimised.

Many also praised the actions of the bus driver and other passengers, saying that this was what Malaysia truly was about.