A recent viral claim that Johor car washes are prioritising foreign vehicles has caused quite a stir.
While some Malaysians say they’ve been turned away or overcharged, workers insist the situation is being misunderstood.
Several car wash operators near a major shopping mall in Taman Abad are now feeling the impact of a local boycott, following online claims that they prioritise Singapore-registered vehicles over Malaysian ones.
Viral video sparks backlash
The backlash began after a video posted last Friday alleged that a car wash centre in the area had refused to accept local vehicles, claiming all its slots were booked exclusively by Singaporean customers.
Since then, business has dropped sharply, with local motorists avoiding the area out of frustration over alleged discriminatory service practices and inflated prices.
Workers deny the allegations
Rana Sheikh Ali, 46, a Bangladeshi supervisor at one of the affected car washes, denied the allegations, insisting that most outlets especially smaller and mid-tier ones served all customers equally.
It’s unfair to lump all operators together because of a few ‘premium’ car washes that turn away locals, especially on weekends and holidays,” he told the New Straits Times.
He added that before the viral post, his centre typically washed between 50 and 70 cars on weekends, with Malaysians making up about 60 per cent of that number.
“Now, we’re getting fewer than 10 Malaysian-registered cars a day,” he said.
Pricing practices under scrutiny
Rana also maintained that the most basic services remain affordably priced, with the centre charging RM12 for standard cars and RM15 for larger vehicles. Optional ‘water wax’ treatments range between RM50 and RM80.
Still, some Malaysians remain dissatisfied. Abdul Rahim Jamian, 43, said he once paid RM62 after being pressured into taking the extra service.
“I’ve stopped going there. Many of us now drive to car washes in the outskirts, where prices are reasonable and without forced add-ons,” he said.
Authorities respond
In response to the growing controversy, Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor issued a warning to business operators.
He said that any outlet found refusing to serve locals could lose its business licence.
“This is unacceptable. Car wash operators in Johor must serve everyone fairly,” he was quoted as saying.
Uncertain times ahead
Operators now fear that the boycott could extend further, affecting not just weekend traffic but also regular weekday customers.
Rana, meanwhile, appealed to the public not to punish all centres based on the actions of a few.
“We are just trying to make a living. If this continues, many workers here will lose their jobs,” he said.
The local authorities are expected to begin inspections and review licensing compliance in the coming days.
