DISINGENUOUS yet somewhat desperate at the same time. This was the accompanying sentiment to a video first posted on Tik Tok by malaysiahomie.
The brief clip shows a young man, identified as just Muz, taking viewers on a tour of his humble RM40k “abode”. It transpires that his Proton Iriz also doubles as his home, having converted the back seats and boot space to accommodate a semblance of a living space.
@malaysiahomie He pays RM40,000 to stay in a Proton Iriz 🚗 so cool 😎 #malaysiahomie #housetour ♬ original sound – Malaysia Homie
The modified interior has space for the 178cm tall dweller to lie down comfortably while a charger keeps three fans and a host of other small electrical items going. Muz says he relies on public washrooms or the facilities at his office or gym to stay clean, while laundry is done the old-fashioned way—by hand.
The mobile home dweller says he was spending up to RM30 daily for his 60km commute to work and decided to convert his car to save costs. While his ingenuity in coming up with a novel solution is commendable, it is also a reflection of the cost-of-living crisis that is engulfing many ordinary Malaysians.
These are some of the comments that accompanied the original post on Tik Tok, with a few commending Muz for his frugal lifestyle.
More than one person did say they found the video to be claustrophobic.
One asked, what happens when the car is in the workshop? Does Muz have to sleep rough?
Quite a few expressed concern for the young man advising that he select his parking spot carefully to avoid being targeted by criminals.
While some pointed to the inherent danger of sleeping inside a car with limited ventilation, the fitted exhaust fan should be enough to keep the air flowing.
The video gave others who also had long commutes food for thought.
Some obviously thought this was a great idea, saying this video would boost Proton Iriz sales.
One netizen even chipped in with some energy-saving tips to improve the comfort for Muz and others who may be thinking of having similar living arrangements.
However, the overriding concern seems to be how property prices have become beyond the means of today’s youth. A few netizens expressed dismay that this is what the younger generation has to resort to.
For what it’s worth, Muz seems unperturbed by his living arrangements saying it is his goal to drive all the way to China in his mobile home!
While it can be seen as a damning indictment of the cost-of-living crisis engulfing the nation, the young man must certainly be applauded for thinking outside the box (or the conventional four walls pf a home).
Perhaps there is a paradigm shift among the young who may not want to be saddled with a mortgage. Instead, they might just want to see the world in the mobile homes unencumbered by heavy expenses that limit their possibilities for adventure.
Could this be the start of a new trend with mobile home parks sprouting up, especially in cities where real estate is at a premium?
In the meantime, FocusM wishes Muz all the very best as he tries to navigate modern life in his Proton Iriz. – June 16, 2024
