A recent Xiaohongshu post comparing a Malaysian street food seller earning RM20,000 a month to a doctor earning RM5,000 has struck a nerve and netizens definitely had thoughts.
The post, which featured two side-by-side photos — one of a hawker slicing roasted pork and the other of doctors in a surgery room along with their alleged monthly earnings.
Unsurprisingly, it sparked immediate debate about income inequality, job prestige, and society’s value system.
Roasted pork (or siew yoke) is a popular dish in Malaysia, particularly among Chinese communities, and is often sold in hawker stalls.
It’s commonly served during festivals, family gatherings, or as part of everyday meals. This high demand can contribute to steady sales and a potentially high income.
While it’s possible that a successful roasted pork seller can earn a high income, this would depend on factors such as their location, the scale of their business, and customer demand.
Government doctors earn a steady income with benefits, while street food vendors may have more volatile earnings depending on their business success.
According to Jobstreet, the average monthly salary for doctors in Malaysia ranges from RM8,000 to RM10,000, with variations based on specialty, experience, and whether they work in the public or private sector.
“You can’t compare the top 10% of hawkers with the bottom 10% of doctors”
One of the top comments called out the flawed comparison, pointing out that the image pits the highest earners among small traders against some of the lowest-paid doctors.
You’re comparing the top 10% of hawkers with the bottom 10% of doctors. What’s the point?” one user wrote.
Another user, claiming to be a doctor, chimed in saying that after working 5–6 years in a government hospital, most doctors do earn around that amount.
However, others argued that this isn’t representative of doctors overall.
80% of doctors earn around RM5K,” one insisted, while another replied, “Most hawkers don’t even break RM20K. Let’s not compare a 20-year veteran hawker to a fresh grad doctor.”
In response to the perceived low pay of government doctors, many pointed out that private sector doctors earn significantly more.
Some netizens defended the medical profession, arguing that private doctors can make a far higher income, easily comparable to the earnings of the hawker featured in the post.
Meanwhile, some defended government jobs, emphasizing the excellent welfare and benefits they offer.
Another camp of commenters simply pointed out that hard work pays off in different ways and both professions require skill and grit.
Some users also joked that their parents had always encouraged them to become doctors or lawyers but never told them becoming a hawker could make that much money.
The post touched on a deeper conversation about how Malaysians view success.
While doctors undergo years of training and save lives, many hawkers work just as hard and hustle long hours — often with higher financial returns in the short term.
Still, many pointed out that comparing a fresh graduate doctor with a decades-old hawker business isn’t a fair fight.
