If you’ve ever had a friend tell you, “Bro, just go makan in Malaysia. Trust me,” this is that friend.
Except it’s a tourist, and he just roasted Singapore’s food scene online, sparking laughs, nods, and a little bit of drama.
A tale as old as nasi lemak vs chicken rice
Malaysia and Singapore have been locked in a friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) food rivalry for decades.
Recently, one Western tourist boldly reignited the debate with a brutally honest take that’s making waves.
He opened with, “Here goes. I’m going to say something quite controversial. If it offends you, I apologise in advance. Ok, I’m not sorry.”
And just like that, the conversation got real.
Taste and price? Malaysia wins, according to him
According to him, anything you can find in Singapore food-wise, you can find in Malaysia for one-third the price and it tastes better.
That statement alone had netizens doing a double take. But he wasn’t finished.
His point wasn’t just about cost. He argued that in Malaysia, the value of what you’re getting is unmatched.
You get generous portions, bold flavours, and rich diversity at a fraction of the price you’d pay across the Causeway.
Then came the durian drop
As if the price comparison wasn’t spicy enough, he moved on to one of Southeast Asia’s most beloved (and debated) fruits; the durian.
He said, “Singapore’s national fruit is the durian. I’m sure they love durian, but they don’t grow any.”
That line alone raised eyebrows. But he didn’t stop there.
He added, “Malaysia originated it and the durian from Malaysia is better than any durian grown anywhere in the world. Sorry Thailand.”
In his eyes, Malaysian durians reign supreme, and Musang King is king for a reason.
“I’ve been wanting to say this for years”
He ended his now-viral statement by admitting how long he’d been holding this in:
“There, I said it. Whew that feels like a weight has been lifted. I’ve been wanting to say this for years.”
And judging by the reactions, he’s not the only one who’s felt that way.
Netizens respond, and some agree
His comments sparked lively discussion online. While some Singaporeans were understandably defensive, many netizens even from Singapore agreed with the sentiment.
Some highlights from the comments:
“We Malaysians just let foreigners talk. 😎”
“As a Singaporean, not controversial. It’s facts that some Singaporeans just refuse to accept.”
“‘Singapore’s National Fruit’..??? Who told you that? Since when?”
