One crash. One wrecked car. One moment that could’ve ended everything. Instead, it started a business.
This is how a terrifying accident on a Malaysian road turned into the birth of Astra Car Rental and a fleet that keeps growing.
Rock Bottom Hit… Then Something Clicked
Back in 2019, he lost control of his car and slammed into a divider. The vehicle? Totaled.
His confidence? Shaken.
But sitting there, dealing with the aftermath, a simple problem hit him hard:
He needed a car fast.
That desperate search for a rental opened his eyes. Reliable transportation isn’t a luxury. It’s survival. Work. Family. Life.
And just like that, a new idea was born.
Before the Business, There Was the Hustle
He wasn’t some overnight success story. Far from it.
A Penang boy with an electrical engineering background, he moved to Sepang chasing better opportunities. He drove for Uber. Then Grab. He worked at a printing company.
Long hours. Fixed salary. Big dreams.
But deep down, he knew the 9–5 life wasn’t going to fund the future he wanted. The accident didn’t just damage a car.
It smashed his fear of starting something on his own.
No Fancy Loans. Just Faith and a Partner Who Believed
Starting a car rental business sounds exciting until paperwork enters the chat. No stable job record.
No easy financing. No smooth approvals.
That’s when his wife stepped in.
Together, they secured their very first car: a humble Perodua Axia. Small car. Massive meaning.
That Axia wasn’t just a vehicle.
It was the first brick in the foundation of Astra Car Rental.
From there, the fleet grew. A Toyota Avanza for bigger families. A Perodua Bezza for practical city drives. Today, he runs multiple personal cars and even works with agents when demand overflows.
From one wrecked car… to a growing lineup on the road.
In a Crowded Market, He Chose a Different Lane
Malaysia’s car rental scene is competitive. Prices get slashed. Cars get overused. Service gets sloppy.
He went the opposite way.
Quality over quantity. Always.
Every car under Astra is maintained before it’s even due for service. No “good enough.”
No “can still jalan.”
His rule? Even if the car isn’t brand new, it must feel brand new when customers drive it. That mindset-built trust and trust built a loyal customer base. Working professionals.
Business travelers. Clients flying in from Sabah, Sarawak, and even the UK. Most don’t just rent once.
They come back.
Old School Service in a Digital World
While apps automate everything, he keeps it personal.
Based in Bandar Serenia, Sepang, he often delivers cars himself. Airport pickups. Direct handovers. Real conversations.
It’s not just a transaction. It’s a relationship.
And in an industry where horror rental stories spread fast, that personal touch is his secret weapon.
Not Every Turn Was Smooth
The journey had potholes.
Late payments. Customer accidents.
And a painful digital blow his original Facebook page, built since 2019, got hacked. Years of content and credibility gone overnight.
Most people would slow down. He doubled down.
Rebuilt from zero. Focused on repeat customers. Let word-of-mouth do what ads couldn’t. Today, referrals drive his business just as much as engines do.
From Side Hustle to Serious Vision
What started as a backup plan is now the main road.
Right now, he runs operations from home. But the dream is bigger: within five years, he wants Astra Car Rental operating from a proper landed shoplot office.
A real base. A stronger brand. A larger fleet.
And it all traces back to the day his car was destroyed.
Sometimes You Don’t Need a Sign. You Need a Crash.
His story hits different because it’s real. No investors. No viral launch. Just grit, partnership, and the courage to try after life hits hard.
A totaled car could’ve been the end. Instead, it became the ignition.
And Astra Car Rental? Still accelerating.
