A Malaysian woman became the subject of online ridicule after another passenger allegedly photographed her taking a selfie during a flight and posted the image online, labelling the act as supposedly “B40” behaviour.
The post, which has reportedly attracted around one million views, showed the woman sitting several rows away while taking a selfie onboard the aircraft. Her face was covered with an emoji in the images shared online.
The user who uploaded the photos questioned whether people from the B40 income group needed to take selfies when flying for the first time, while also describing the behaviour as “kampung”.
The remark, however, quickly drew criticism from Malaysians who felt there was nothing unusual or embarrassing about wanting to capture a moment during a flight.
Several users pointed out that people have different financial circumstances and that some may spend months saving for a holiday or even their first flight. For them, taking a photograph could simply be a way of preserving a meaningful personal milestone.
Others said even regular travellers continue to take pictures while flying, adding that the woman’s actions did not appear to disturb anyone around her.
The criticism was also directed at the person who took and uploaded the photograph without the woman’s apparent knowledge. Some questioned why another passenger needed to secretly photograph a stranger simply to make fun of her online.
The “kampung” label meanwhile sparked a wave of sarcastic responses, with some Malaysians sharing their own travel photographs and jokingly embracing the term.
One user described herself as an “orang kampung” while posting a picture taken on an Emirates business class flight, humorously wishing fellow “kampung” travellers would eventually get the chance to experience first class.
Another netizen shared flight photographs while joking that B40 Malaysians simply enjoyed taking pictures, turning the original insult into a light-hearted response.
Several public figures and verified users also joined the discussion, with some stressing that a person’s income group should not determine whether they are entitled to celebrate or document a personal experience.
Others suggested that the woman might have been sending the selfie to her family or recording a moment that was personally important to her.
The backlash has since shifted attention away from the woman’s selfie and towards the wider issue of judging strangers based on their perceived financial status.
For many users, taking a photograph during a flight is simply about keeping a memory. Whether it is a first flight, a long-awaited holiday or just an ordinary journey, the moment can mean something different to each passenger.
