Malaysia is investigating a complaint by a foreign couple that they were charged RM120 (S$36) for a haircut in Kuala Lumpur.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Salahuddin Ayub said if the allegations were true, action could be taken against barbers under the anti-commercial law.
“If the allegations are true, let’s take strict action against those involved. Not only have they overcharged, but such actions have damaged Malaysia’s reputation,” he told Malaysian media.
“As a tourist destination, we need to provide the best service and reasonable prices.”
The foreign couple is a pair of YouTubers from England known as Zoe and Czar. They recently uploaded a 2.14 minute video of her on their TikTok account.
After seeing a sign advertising haircuts starting at RM19, the couple went to a barber shop in the commercial district of Bukit Bintang.
They were shocked when the barber quoted RM120 after Czar’s haircut.
“That’s more than what I paid in the UK,” Czar said in a TikTok video.
The couple claimed to have heard another foreigner being charged RM250 by another barber at the same shop.
The couple decided to ask a local and was told the price should not exceed RM50.
However, the barber argued that foreigners would have to fork out the amount because they were told they had to pay “additional taxes.”
Barber also attributed the price to trimming Tsar’s beard, with Zoe pointing out that her partner “doesn’t have much facial hair.”
Summing up their experience, Zoe said it was unfair to assume that foreigners had a lot of money and said, “It’s okay to charge us that much.” .
“It gives people a bad impression,” she added.
The video has since gone viral and people are saying the couple got scammed. The commentator also claimed that the barber was not Malaysian, based on his accent.
“A decent haircut and shave costs less than US$5 or around RM15 to RM30 at a local barber,” said one commenter.
Many people told Tsar and Zoe that the government was investigating the incident, and the couple replied: thanks for letting me know. “
https://www.tnp.sg/news/world/foreign-couple-charged-36-haircut-kl-authorities-investigating A foreign couple charged $36 for a haircut in KL.Authorities Investigations, Latest World News