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When an Axle detaches from a popular SUV in broad daylight as seen on October 6th 2026 along Jalan Pandan near AEON Mall Tebrau City, Johor Bahru it would typically spark a massive public outrage and also vehicle owner outrage.
Yet, in contrast to the explosive viral movement of the initial 2024 Omoda 5 rear axle failure (yes this is the first batch of 600 plus units and not the 2025 facelift), the aftermath of this recent Tebrau detachment has been met with silence from three critical players in this issue. Firstly, the vehicle owner, then the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the vehicle manufacturer in Malaysia and lets not forget rival car manufacturers waiting to hit the brand that is growing the fastest in Malaysia this past 2 years.
1. Why the Omoda 5 Owner Didn’t Make a Fuss on Social Media
In the original April 2024 incident, the affected owner turned to Facebook, posting raw footage that triggered immediate viral traction and forced a public crisis management response. The Tebrau incident played out entirely differently with zero posts from the Omoda 5 owner. Why?
Pre-emptive Customer Service Management
Rather than allowing the owner to seek independent legal recourse or mobilize online support, Chery’s ground-level assistance team arrived at the Tebrau site rapidly to secure the vehicle, manage towing, and offer immediate mobility solutions. When a consumer receives immediate concierge-level service and guaranteed financial protection, the emotional incentive to post online drops significantly.
2. Why JPJ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan) Isn’t “Making Noise”
To the public, regulatory silence looks like inaction. However, within governmental administrative bodies like JPJ, silence indicates active technical audit workflow in progress to identify the cause rather than indifference.
Statutory Procedures Under the Road Transport Act 1987
Under Section 84 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), JPJ possesses statutory authority to compel motor vehicle manufacturers to report safety defects and issue mandatory recalls. However, JPJ does not issue public warnings based on raw social media media photos. Its standard operating procedure requires:
- Summoning the OEM: Formally requiring Chery Malaysia to submit an initial technical evaluation within a set regulatory window.
- Metallurgical & Structural Investigation: Determining if the failure was caused by fatigue from an unrecorded severe impact (such as a high-speed curb strike), aftermarket modification, or a manufacturing/welding defect like the miscalibrated vendor equipment identified in the 2024 recall.
- Determining Recall Scope: Deciding whether the issue impacts a specific production batch or constitutes an isolated incident.
JPJ’s public relations policy is strictly evidence-driven. Until the vehicle’s structural integrity, service history, and potential prior accident records are fully verified by forensic engineers, JPJ will not issue statements that could trigger unnecessary market panic.
3. Why Rival Car Brands Are Keeping Quiet
In a competitive market like Malaysia’s C-segment SUV landscape (dominated by national brands Proton and Perodua, along with established players like Honda, Toyota, and BYD), one might expect rivals to weaponize an opponent’s structural failure. Their restraint stems from strategic industry dynamics:
The Global Supply Chain ‘Glass House Effect’
Automotive manufacturers rely on shared Tier-1 and Tier-2 component vendors across Southeast Asia. Structural parts, sub-frames, and suspension components are often sourced from common suppliers or welded using similar automated tooling equipment. Taking a public jab at a competitor over a vendor-level manufacturing defect risks severe backlash if a similar batch issue hits their own supply chain later.
Market Integrity & Regional Investment Dynamics
The rapid influx of Chinese OEMs into Malaysia (including Geely, Chery, BYD, GWM, Jaecoo, and Wuling) relies heavily on consumer confidence in new automotive technologies. Publicly attacking a competitor’s structural integrity risks undermining consumer trust in new entrants as a whole. Rival brands prefer to win market share through specs, pricing, and warranty terms rather than highlighting catastrophic mechanical failures that damage broader consumer confidence.
Summary Analysis
The silence following the Tebrau Omoda 5 axle detachment was not accidental—it was the result of coordinated institutional and corporate strategy:
| Stakeholder | Primary Reason for Silence | Outcome |
| Vehicle Owner | Enforceable NDAs, pre-emptive financial compensation and replacement arrangements. | Containment of viral public outrage. |
| JPJ | Strict statutory protocol requiring technical, forensic root-cause analysis before issuing official public directives. | Standard administrative investigation. |
| Rival OEMs | Supply chain interdependencies, legal liabilities, and market protection strategies. | Focus on product competitiveness over public disparagement. |
