Expectations can shape an entire holiday experience — and for one American traveller, her visit to Malaysia turned out to be a complete disappointment.
What began as an eagerly anticipated Southeast Asian getaway quickly soured, prompting her to post a viral TikTok video describing why she regretted coming to Malaysia and would “never return.”
In her clip, she flashed the message “Yeah, I definitely won’t be back to Malaysia. 0 out of 10, don’t recommend” while recounting her time in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
The TikTok user compared Malaysia to her previous trips to Cambodia and Vietnam, claiming the hospitality there was “far better.”
“I have been to Cambodia. Cambodia hospitality is way better than this. I have been to Vietnam. Vietnam hospitality is way better than this. So zero out of ten. I honestly do not recommend Malaysia,” she said.
Her harshest criticism was directed at Kuala Lumpur, which she rated “0 out of 10,” claiming the people were rude. She insisted she had no idea why locals treated her poorly.
She admitted Penang had “lighter vibes” compared to KL, but claimed the treatment she received remained similar.
One major incident she highlighted involved a Penang e-hailing driver allegedly cancelling her ride after seeing she and her companion were Black Americans.
“We couldn’t get a driver even though they were nine minutes away. Then he cancelled. Once he saw we were American and Black, he cancelled. That is crazy,” she alleged, claiming this happened more than once.
Her video drew mixed reactions. Many Malaysians said they were unbothered by her remarks, joking that she was welcome to holiday elsewhere if she preferred “better hospitality.”
Foreign travellers also chimed in, saying they had positive experiences in Malaysia.
Some users pointed out that e-hailing cancellations are common worldwide — not necessarily racial — and others suggested her video seemed intentionally negative, as if she wanted to portray the country in the worst possible light.
