Chinese tourist in Malaysia charged 7 times normal fare for airport taxi ride

The 42-year-old driver, identified as Kalaivanie, first came under scrutiny in September when two Chinese tourists accused her of luring them with a RM60 fare before hiking the price mid-journey to RM836.

The tourists claimed that when they refused to pay, she allegedly locked them inside the car, strangled and slapped them, before they managed to escape with help from hotel staff. The driver and her male accomplice reportedly fled the scene before police could arrive, the New Straits Times reported.

Weeks later, on Sept. 22, Malaysia's Road Traffic Department caught Kalaivanie again during an anti-touting operation at KLIA Terminal 2. She had approached a Filipino tourist at the arrival hall, offered an illegal taxi service and was caught leading the visitor toward a rented Perodua Axia she had parked nearby. Authorities seized the car as part of investigations, Mothership reported.

On Oct. 7, she appeared before a magistrate's court and pleaded guilty to touting and providing unlicensed taxi services. The court fined her RM5,000 ($1,186).

Prosecutors pushed for a harsher penalty, pointing out that Kalaivanie had shown "no remorse" despite having previously been fined RM4,000 in September 2023 for the same offense. They warned that such illegal activities, particularly when targeting foreign visitors, could "tarnish Malaysia's reputation as a leading tourism destination."

Kalaivanie, a single mother of two, asked the court for leniency. She said she was struggling financially, with only RM3,000 to her name, while also supporting a sick child and caring for her mother, who is on dialysis. After sentencing, she reportedly managed to settle the fine.

Airport touting has been an ongoing problem in Malaysia, with authorities frequently warning travelers to avoid illegal drivers and use official airport taxis or ride-hailing services.