A “wintry wonderland” appeared on a highway in tropical Malaysia, delighting drivers—until police revealed the foam was soap, turning the spectacle into a safety reminder.
Footage shared online depicted thick white foam blanketing multiple lanes of the Shah Alam Expressway, with cars traversing what looked like a snowy stretch.
Such a sight is rare in Malaysia, which lacks a traditional winter and experiences fairly stable temperatures year‑round.
Malaysians nonetheless offered various explanations; one social media commentator compared the foam to a Korean film scene, noting the presence of a Proton Saga, a popular locally produced car.
Some guessed the odor resembled fabric softeners such as Downy or Softlan, prompting a comment: “Who’s doing laundry by the roadside?”
As speculation grew, Shah Alam district police chief Assistant Commissioner Sarudin Samah identified the cause as soap residue likely spilled from a truck on August 24 near the Kota Kemuning interchange.
Sarudin noted that firefighters had covered the foam with sawdust, yet the remaining detergent resurfaced after heavy rain struck the area on Thursday.
