VIDEOS and photos showing a thick, white, snow-like layer blanketing a stretch of highway in Shah Alam recently went viral on social media, leaving netizens wondering if an unexpected winter wonderland had suddenly arrived in tropical Malaysia.
Did a rare weather phenomenon actually hit Shah Alam, or is there a more down-to-earth explanation?
VERDICT:
FALSE
While the sight of a road covered in white might have looked like a wintry scene, Shah Alam did not experience a snowstorm.
Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Sarudin Samah clarified that the "snow" was actually a massive buildup of soap suds caused by heavy rain reacting with leftover chemical residue from a previous spillage.
According to ACP Sarudin, police detected the viral posts showing the foam-draped highway on Thursday (Sept 3) afternoon.
Investigations revealed that the cause was traced back to an incident on Aug 24, when a lorry transporting a load of soap spilt part of its cargo at the Kota Kemuning slip road entering the Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas).
Fire and Rescue Department personnel responded to the spill by spreading sawdust over the affected road surface to absorb the liquid.
However, heavy downpours on Thursday (Sept 3) reactivated the remaining soap residue, creating a vast foam blanket that stretched across a 500m section between KM30.0 and KM30.5 of the Kesas Highway (Kuala Lumpur-bound from Klang).
The slippery, bubbly layer near the Hicom interchange caused temporary traffic congestion as cautious motorists slowed down.
ACP Sarudin added that the highway concessionaire quickly launched a second cleanup operation to wash away the foam and restore safe driving conditions.
Cleaning works were fully completed by 4.58pm the same day.
So, if you saw clips of a "snowy" highway in Shah Alam on your feed, it was just a very bubbly cleanup situation!
References:
Sinar Harian (Sept 4, 2026) - 'Bukan salji tapi muatan sabun tumpah dari lori'
