A Malaysian’s decision not to lend his car to a relative for a long-distance trip has sparked an online discussion after the disagreement reportedly escalated into an emotional family dispute.
The car owner shared his experience on Threads, explaining that his vehicle had already travelled more than 9,000km and was approaching its scheduled 10,000km service.
He was also concerned after noticing that the steering felt slightly heavier than usual. Because of the issue, he was uncomfortable allowing the car to be used for a lengthy journey before it had been checked.
According to the post, a relative from his mother’s side had asked to borrow the vehicle to travel to a distant location. The relative first asked whether the car had been serviced, prompting the owner to explain its current condition.
The owner said he told the relative that the service had not yet been carried out and mentioned his concerns about the steering. He also explained that he was worried about taking the vehicle on a long journey in its current state.
However, the situation reportedly became tense about 30 minutes later when the relative approached him and appeared unhappy with his response.
The owner said he had already planned to use the car with a friend, although their intended journey would only be within the same area and would not involve travelling a long distance.
The disagreement allegedly intensified when the relative brought up past favours they had done for the owner. The relative also reportedly said that the refusal had hurt their feelings.
The argument subsequently continued through WhatsApp, leaving the owner frustrated. He admitted that he eventually chose to leave the messages unanswered after reading them.
He later apologised to the relative for causing hurt feelings, but questioned whether he had been wrong to refuse the request to use his own vehicle.
The incident prompted other Threads users to weigh in, with many supporting the owner’s decision and saying that the final choice should remain with the person who owns the car.
Some commenters also highlighted the potential risks of lending a vehicle, particularly when the owner has already noticed possible mechanical issues and the requested journey involves travelling a considerable distance.
For many users, the discussion was less about refusing a family member and more about respecting personal boundaries when it comes to vehicle safety and responsibility.
