Malaysia's Johor warns of license revocation for Singapore-only car washes after online outrage

"If someone is doing business in Johor, but only prioritizes foreigners while sidelining locals just for the sake of bigger profits, then we will not tolerate it," Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, the state's housing and local government committee chairman, said on Sunday, as quoted by The Star.

"I will instruct local councils to cancel the license of any car wash operator that insists on only accepting foreign-registered vehicles, especially from Singapore."

Jafni noted that such businesses would be investigated and face firm actions if the practice persists, and reminded them not to ignore their responsibility to the local community.

He said the matter would be taken seriously after a car wash in Johor Bahru, the state's capital city, went viral for allegedly turning away locals and only catering to Singapore-registered vehicles, according to the New Straits Times.

The car wash, operated by foreign workers, reportedly explained that all its slots had been taken by clients from Singapore.

The post sparked backlash on Threads, where many users criticized the business for excluding locals. Many Singaporeans also voiced disapproval, saying they had not been aware of such practices and agreed that Malaysians should be given priority.

"Such business owners are just greedy. I am a Singaporean & I don't like this kind of practice which clearly discriminates Malaysian," one user said, as cited by MustShareNews.

Johor Bahru, which borders Singapore, is connected to the city-state via the Johor–Singapore Causeway, one of the busiest land crossings in the world. The route sees over 350,000 daily travelers, many of whom are Malaysians commuting to work and Singaporeans visiting Johor for cheaper shopping and services.