A tourist from China has recently left a scathing review regarding her trip to Kuala Lumpur, which she described as the “worst travel experience” she has witnessed to date.
The clip, which was originally shared on Douyin and later found its way to other social media platforms, has since sparked strong reactions among Malaysians, with some concurring and others disagreeing with her.
‘Disconnection & chaos’
The tourist, who hails from Shanghai, said her impression of the capital city was one of “disconnection and chaos”, adding that the level of noise pollution was beyond bearable.
Her first criticism was about the dichotomy that was displayed by the combination of shabby buildings and modern-looking skyscrapers being built up within the same area.
“It feels like a relatively underdeveloped place where a few skyscrapers were suddenly constructed…only the PETRONAS Twin Towers and maybe one or two shopping areas were busy — the rest of the city feels backwards.”
As for KL’s aesthetics, the tourist had little praise for it, saying that the “urban planning and construction are messy and has no sense of beauty.”
Her next criticism was about KL’s lack of pedestrian walkways, where she recounted how she and a friend were forced to walk along busy roads and risk their personal safety.
“My friend and I basically had to walk one behind the other [on a sidewalk]. It was extremely hard for two people to walk beside each other.
“And as we walked, the pavement would just disappear, forcing us to find a path, with motorcycles whizzing by. It really felt incredibly unsafe,” she said.
Claimed she was harassed by men
In addition to that, the tourist also recounted instances where she was allegedly harassed by men on the streets.
The moment we stepped outside, I thought I was in India — a group of men stared at us. At the KLCC area, men catcalled us, and even pushed their friends towards us.”
She also said that a homeless man attempted to make physical contact with her and a friend by suddenly getting to his feet and yelling at them, causing them to flee in fear.
To top things off, the tourist added she was misled by an e-hailing driver who drove her and her friend to a night market that was already closed for the day without giving her a heads up.
In the end, she was forced to fork out extra money to have a ride back to her hotel.
Amidst the criticism, the only bright spot was the hotel the tourist stayed in, where she praised it for its affordability as she only had to spend 300 yuan (around RM200) for a hotel which had a rooftop infinity pool and a view of the PETRONAS Twin Towers.
Mixed reactions
Malaysians have since given their take on the tourist’s experience, with many on Reddit agreeing with the grouses she brought up in the clip.
One speculated that the tourist’s travel experience was worsened by the fact that she stayed near the ICC Pudu area, which is notorious for its seedy environment.
On the other hand, many have also reacted strongly towards the tourist, who claimed she was cyberbullied following the clip’s release.
She told SAYS that the clip was meant to air her frustration over the exaggerated portrayal of KL on Chinese social media and had no intention to offend anyone.
“There have been many misinterpretations, including assumptions that I was criticising all Malaysians, which I never intended. My explanations have often been ignored.
“I don’t want the situation to escalate into a conflict between Chinese and Malaysian citizens and I plan to release a follow-up video to clarify the misunderstandings and address the concerns raised by Malaysian viewers,” she added.
Do you agree with the tourist’s critique of KL? Share with us in the comments!
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