The Soap Opera of Urban Myth Busting The recent spectacle on Malaysia's Shah Alam Expressway, where a mysterious white substance coated the highway, has been attributed to soap residue from a lorry spill by police.
This explanation seems straightforward enough, but it highlights the enduring power of urban myths and speculation in modern society. Malaysians took to social media to propose their own theories about the phenomenon.
Some suggested it was a marketing stunt or even a scene from a Korean movie. Theories ranged from the plausible – a spill from a lorry – to the outlandish – a fabric softener fueled rave.