QuickCheck: Is a shop owner throwing T-shirts into the Melaka River?

The Star

22-04-2025

A screenshot of the video that went viral on TikTok showing the shopowner throwing one of his T-shirts into the Melaka river.
A TIKTOK video showing a shop owner discarding T-shirts into the Melaka River has captivated social media, sparking anger among the public.
The video's viral nature has led to questions about the motivations behind this act.
Did a shop owner really throw T-shirts into the river?
Verdict:
TRUE
A Melaka lawmaker is calling on the owner of a clothing outlet on Jalan Laksamana to donate unwanted T-shirts to those in need rather than discarding them into the Melaka River.
Kota Laksamana representative Low Chee Leong said he has dispatched his staff to engage with the outlet owner, hoping to redistribute the clothing to 35 underprivileged individuals in his constituency.
"Instead of throwing them into the river, why not hand them over to us so we can give them to people who genuinely need such items," he said on Tuesday (April 22) after visiting Sungai Melaka along the banks of Kampung Morten to check on cleanliness.
Low was responding to a viral TikTok video showing the owner, who is also a social media influencer, tossing the garments into the river, allegedly out of frustration over claims that the T-shirt designs had been plagiarised.
The 34-year-old's actions sparked backlash from netizens and prompted the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) to issue a notice of offence on Sunday (April 20).
MBMB Mayor Datuk Shadan Othman confirmed that the notice was issued under Section 47(1)(a) of the Roads, Drains and Buildings Act 1974, which prohibits the disposal of waste - including clothing - in public areas.
The offence carries a compound fine of RM500.
Low also stated that he had checked with the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), which confirmed that the owner had since retrieved the items from the river.
"The 13-second video has stirred public anger, with many condemning the act as irresponsible, especially considering the Sungai Melaka's significance as a major tourist attraction in the historic city," he added.