Property agent says sorry for insulting e-hailing and p-hailing jobs, plans to experience the work for himself

GEORGE TOWN: A property agent, under fire for insulting e-hailing drivers and food delivery riders in a recent Facebook live stream, has apologised for his actions and now says he will even try his hand at delivering food.

"I sincerely want to apologise for my misconduct. There is a lot of talk about the incident and about me on social media.

"I hope the public can forgive me," the Penang-based agent, Paul Lim (pic), told a press conference at a hotel here on Friday (Nov 12)

He said his company had suspended him indefinitely from all the jobs he was working on.

The 28-year-old Penangite clarified that it was never his intention for the live stream to mock anyone as it was only meant to sell land in Balik Pulau.

He said the woman who was with him in the video was actually a customer and he had no other relationship with her.

"I had no intention at all to make the public angry," he said, adding that his statements had nothing to do with his company, his co-workers, or their family members.

The woman, one Maggie Fong, also reportedly belittled e-hailing drivers and food delivery riders in the live stream.

Fong has since apologised for the incident in an interview with a Chinese-language news portal.

Wiping away tears, Lim said he has decided to become a food delivery rider to experience the work for himself, and to show the sincerity of his apology.

"Again, I want to apologise to all e-hailing drivers, food delivery riders, fishmongers and hawkers.

"I will respect everybody's occupation," he said, adding that he wants to learn how to be a better person before starting work again.

Lim's live stream video on Nov 7 left Malaysians riled up.

In the video, Fong, an "entrepreneurship educator", was heard asking in Mandarin how rich were those who order takeaway food while Lim burst out laughing.

Fong was also heard saying that she was not belittling such jobs and suggested that there were better ways to make money.

Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) chief executive officer K. Soma Sundram said the real estate fraternity was disturbed and annoyed by the statements in the video.

"We wish to state that Lim's remarks are his own and we do not agree with or support them," he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 11).

He added that MIEA regretted what had happened and Lim's statements did not reflect the respect real estate practitioners have for e-hailing drivers and food delivery riders.

"Without them our lives will be in turmoil," he added.