Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg

Malaysia’s Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) will be looking into a tourist’s claim that he was charged RM120 (S$36) for a haircut in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported.

The advertised price of the haircut was RM19 (S$5.70).

On Apr. 11, Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Salahuddin Ayub told the press that if the tourist’s allegations were true, “stern action” would be taken against the barber under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

“Not only did they charge excessively, but the action tarnished Malaysia's good name,” said Salahuddin, according to New Straits Times.

What happened?

The dispute was detailed in a two-minute and 15 seconds TikTok video uploaded by the couple, who go by Zoe and Czar, under the username @ZoeandCzar.

@zoeandczar_ What do you think? Do you also think 120 ringgit is far too much for a trim in a local barber shop in Kuala lumpur? First time this has happened to us in Malaysia 🇲🇾 #malaysia #kualalumpur #kualalumpurmalaysia #malaysiatiktok ♬ original sound - Zoe&Czar

The barber first engaged in conversation with Czar while cutting his hair and asked him where he was from.

Thinking that the former was just trying to be nice, he replied that he was from the Philippines but had moved to the UK.

The barber then replied that it was better that he lived in the UK, noting that it was a “hard life” here, potentially referring to Malaysia.

Though the advertised price of a haircut was from RM19 (about S$5.70), Czar was later charged RM120 (S$36) instead.

They apparently overheard another tourist being charged RM250 (S$75) by another barber.

The couple said that they then asked two locals whether RM120 (S$36) was too much for a haircut, in which they replied that haircuts around the area should not cost more than RM50 (S$15).

The barber then repeatedly tried to tell Czar that “locals don’t have tax” so they did not have to pay so much for haircuts.

Czar later recounted that the barber had repeatedly said that people working in Australia and Europe have “the best paid jobs”.

Zoe noted that it was "fair enough" to charge slightly more than the locals, but it was unreasonable to charge more than double of that.

She added that they felt as if they had been taken advantage of just because they were from abroad.

The couple also said that it was the first time that this has happened to them while in Malaysia.

Commenters chime in

As of time of writing, the video has garnered more than 723,000 views and 8,000 comments.

Many commenters agreed that Czar had been overcharged for his haircut, while listing down how much a haircut would usually cost in Kuala Lumpur.

Some others also pointed out that the barber did not seem local.

Should not overcharge

The KPDN advised all traders to abide by the law and make sure services provided to both Malaysians and foreigners were reasonable, according to Bernama.

They should “not to overcharge or take the opportunity to make excessive profits,” Salahuddin was quoted as saying.

Officers have also been instructed to head to the area to investigate, according to New Straits Times.

Related:

Top images via TikTok/@zoeandczar_