JOHOR BARU: Car wash outlets along Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir here opened for business briefly before closing down again.

       Known as “car wash street” due to the number of outlets in operation, the owners thought they could resume business following Sunday’s announcement that businesses in states under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan could now open.

       Little did they know they were mistaken.

       A worker, known only as Abinash, 32, said they thought that all car wash outlets in states could operate.

       “Unfortunately, it only applies to states that already have 50% of their adult population fully vaccinated and Johor has yet to reach the mark.

       “We found out when enforcement officers came by this morning and clarified the situation to us,” he said.

       Even in the brief time that it was open, the outlet received many inquiries from customers eager to have their cars washed.

       Abinash said they were able to wash one car in the morning before they were asked to close.

       “As we were preparing to close, several customers came by to ask if they could have their cars washed. I had to turn them down,” he said.

       At a nearby outlet, worker Abdullah Hassan, 37, said many customers dropped by the shop asking for their vehicles to be washed.

       “Since my colleagues and I live behind the shop, we could hear people stopping by. This is the first time in months that we have had visitors dropping in.

       “We had to explain to them that the shop cannot open yet and that they would need to wait a while longer,” he said.