For many, a car is just a means of transportation — a tool to aid us in life. But for others, a car is a symbol of wealth.
According to mStar, a recent story shared on the social media platform Threads revealed a painful reality: sometimes, judgment can come from your own family.
‘Don’t come back for Raya with an Alza’
According to the man, who is a businessman, he usually drives luxury cars. But one day, he used a staff member’s Perodua Alza to pick up his parents for a family outing — and their reaction shocked him.
I usually drive luxury cars. But that day, I drove my staff’s Alza to take my parents out for a meal. When I arrived, they looked like they didn’t even want to get in the car.
After dropping them home, his parents even advised him not to return for Raya celebrations with the Alza, fearing that others might think they were poor.
“They told me, ‘Don’t come back for Raya with this car, later people will think we’re poor,’” he revealed.
The man admitted that he was stunned by their reaction and described the incident as one of the saddest moments in his life.
Among all the sad events in my life, this one sticks the most.
It made me realise that in my family, my worth is measured by money and possessions, not by who I am as a person,” he wrote.
He also reflected on how, in his younger days, he once saw luxury cars as a symbol of status. But with age, he now realises that these cars are more of a liability than an asset.
“When I was younger, luxury cars felt like a status symbol. Now that I’m older, I realise they’re a liability. For daily use, it’s better to drive a simple car — less wear and tear, lower costs.”
He added that maintaining a luxury car could cost up to RM5,000 per service, which is why he now prefers to reserve such cars for special occasions.
