---
title: "Tourist Says M’sians Don’t Smile Like The Thais Do, Triggers Backlash From Netizens"
url: https://weirdkaya.com/tourist-says-msians-dont-smile/
date: 2024-04-14
modified: 2024-04-14
lang: en
author: "Sarah Yeoh"
description: "Malaysians are generally warm and kind folks, where they would often treat locals and foreign tourists alike with the same level of friendliness. However, one foreign tourist seemed to have..."
categories:
  - "Society"
tags:
  - "Malaysia"
  - "TikTok"
  - "tourist says M'sians don't smile"
image: https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/link-preview-320-78.png
word_count: 322
---

# Tourist Says M’sians Don’t Smile Like The Thais Do, Triggers Backlash From Netizens

##### Malaysians are generally warm and kind folks, where they would often treat locals and foreign tourists alike with the same level of friendliness.

However, one foreign tourist seemed to have a different take on this, claiming that Malaysians don't like to smile at each other as much as he personally saw in Thailand.

## 'M'sians don't smile as much as those in Thailand'

Taking to [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv/video/7356219761446948103) to share his observation, the TikToker named @marilyn_ruv said that he was particularly bothered by how little Malaysians reciprocate his smile when he gives them one.

![tourist says M](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/tourist-says-msians-dont-smile.png)Screenshot via [TikTok/@marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv/video/7356219761446948103)

He then juxtaposed it with his experience in Thailand, where he said that the people there were more generous with their smile as they would show it to anyone they met in public.

@marilyn_ruv added that his observation of how little Malaysians smile left him feeling "weird and uncomfortable".

> **I know there are a lot of laws here and very strict laws...but the people here are like a little nervous.**

![tourist weirded out by M](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/tourist-weirded-out.png)Screenshot via [TikTok/@marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv/video/7356219761446948103)

## M'sians strongly disagree

Naturally, the tourist's opinions were bound to ruffle some feathers and it was made apparent in the comment section.

Some slammed him for making an issue out of something minor and trying to seek attention for himself with the clip.

![Tourist Says M](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/ladpgto6sqfhk7rmz80c7g-750-207.jpg)Screenshot via [TikTok/@marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv/video/7356219761446948103)

![Tourist Says M](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/ladpgto6sqfj-ujmmc0c7g-750-153.jpg)Screenshot via [TikTok/@marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv/video/7356219761446948103)

A netizen said that the reason Malaysians usually don't smile was due to their shyness, to which @marilyn_ruv replied with: ***'It's doesn't look like "shy(ness). It looks like they hate me or something.'***

![Tourist Says M](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/ladpgr5puss7usznaxxnau4-750-373.jpg)Screenshot via [TikTok/@marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv/video/7356219761446948103)

Meanwhile, a British tourist came to Malaysia's defense, saying that Malaysians were "the warmest and most welcoming people" she had met.

![Tourist Says M](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/ladpgsyfs7ftorrm8s0c7g-750-242.jpg)Screenshot via [TikTok/@marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv/video/7356219761446948103)

Watch the clip here:

> [@marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/@marilyn_ruv?refer=embed) Not really anything bad, just feel like that, generally country so really nice and beautifel [#travel](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/travel?refer=embed) [#fyp](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed) [#foryou](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou?refer=embed) [#foryoupage](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryoupage?refer=embed) [♬ original sound - Marilyn_ruv](https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7356219798365260560?refer=embed)

*Do you agree with the tourist's observations? Share with us in the comment section!*

**READ [ALSO](https://weirdkaya.com/china-student-touched-by-msians-who-helped-move-her-car-that-got-stuck-inside-a-drain-during-raya/):**

https://weirdkaya.com/china-student-touched-by-msians-who-helped-move-her-car-that-got-stuck-inside-a-drain-during-raya/

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