Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has responded to a recently resurfaced viral clip in which he joked that one day the ringgit would be so strong that Singaporeans would come to Malaysia to work as foreign labour.
According to a Facebook video, Nga said the remark, made during a speech in Johor Bahru about five years ago, was never meant to be taken literally.
He added that while the clip has sparked widespread online parodies and student impersonations that he found amusing, it is important to understand the context behind his words.
So now my name has become very long — ‘the one who said Singaporeans will come to Malaysia to be foreign workers’,” he said, laughing. “That was just a joke!”
“That was just a joke!”
Nga explained that the original speech was rooted in his personal experiences and observations of Malaysians who commute daily to Singapore for work, often at great personal risk.
He recalled seeing late-night car wash businesses and motorcycle workshops in Johor that operated through the night mainly to serve Singaporean customers, as well as Malaysians who travelled across the Causeway in the early hours to earn Singapore dollars before returning home exhausted.
I’ve seen too many cases where people risk their lives just to earn a better living. Some make money but lose their lives along the way,” he said, adding that these experiences shaped his belief that Malaysians deserve better economic prospects at home.
Was meant to underline an aspiration
Nga stressed that Malaysia and Singapore share close historical and social ties, describing the two countries as “one family.”
His joke, he said, was meant to underline a broader aspiration: that with good governance and proper management of resources, Malaysia could become a prosperous nation where its people no longer feel compelled to seek livelihoods abroad.
He also touched on the recent strengthening of the ringgit, noting that the currency has shown a gradual recovery after earlier weakness.
“A future where our people work well at home”
According to Nga, the ringgit has appreciated against several regional currencies, making overseas spending more affordable for Malaysians.
The fact that the clip went viral shows something positive,” he said. “It shows Malaysians care deeply about this country. We want Malaysia to do better, to have dignity, prosperity, and a future where our people can live and work well at home.”
The viral clip has since garnered tens of millions of views online, with many netizens sharing memes and humorous reenactments — a reaction Nga says he takes in good humour, as long as the underlying message of national progress is not lost.
