A Taiwanese tourist’s offhand comment about Malaysian food has stirred reactions among local netizens.
A Taiwanese woman has publicly apologised after facing backlash for mocking Malaysian food in a now-deleted social media post.
In the post, she claimed she couldn’t wait to return to Taiwan to eat “food meant for humans”, adding that she wouldn’t return to Malaysia again, a statement that many Malaysians found deeply offensive.
The woman, who had been travelling around Kuala Lumpur and Melaka with her husband, shared her thoughts on Instagram just before flying back on 4 June.
Alongside a selfie where she appeared to roll her eyes, she wrote, “Finally going back to Taiwan. In this lifetime… I don’t think I’ll ever come back to M’sia again. I want to go back to Taiwan and eat food meant for humans.”
Unsurprisingly, the post triggered an outpouring of criticism from Malaysian netizens who felt insulted by the tone and wording.
She claims it was a joke that went wrong
After receiving heavy backlash, the tourist has since issued an apology through her Instagram Story.
She explained that the post was meant to be light-hearted and humorous, as she was venting about her personal discomfort during the trip:
Regarding this trip to Malaysia, I experienced some discomfort due to not being used to the food. I thought I’d post something with a humorous tone to vent a little after returning, but because of my poor choice of words, it gave Malaysia a bad impression and led to misunderstandings. We truly had no intention, nor any malice, to attack anyone. To everyone in Malaysia, I sincerely apologise!!
Also, I’m very thankful to @cathrynli for kindly agreeing to help me post a clarification after having a brief chat with me. I’m truly grateful and appreciate everyone’s feedback during this time. Moving forward, I’ll be more careful with my words when posting.
#I believe every encounter…
#is for a better beginning next time
Malaysian Pianist Li Yuan Ling Comes to Her Defence
According to China Press, Malaysian pianist and influencer Li Yuan Ling, also known as the country’s “piano goddess”, stepped in to clarify the situation and defend the tourist.
She revealed that it was the woman’s first visit to Malaysia and that she had fallen ill after eating due to a combination of rushed meals and food that may not have been entirely hygienic.
“She never meant to insult Malaysia. She feels deeply sorry about this unintentional misunderstanding and sincerely apologises,” Li said. “We hope our Malaysian friends can be understanding and forgiving towards this Taiwanese visitor.”
She added that both parties value the warm ties between Taiwan and Malaysia, and expressed hope that future visits would offer better experiences and more chances to enjoy the country’s beauty and hospitality.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
READ ALSO:
