Bill O’Reilly, America’s very own walking, talking uncle-with-too-much-opinion, has decided that Malaysia (along with Vietnam and Cambodia) is too poor to matter. Yes, according to him, we’re basically scrounging for change between couch cushions and “barely eating.” Right after that, Malaysians opened another tab and ordered a RM12 ring light from Taobao just to feel something.
Here’s what went down: O’Reilly—former Fox News host, current shouting-into-the-camera guy—took issue with China’s economic outreach in Southeast Asia. He claimed we don’t have the cash to buy Chinese goods and told Xi Jinping, basically, “Why bother with those guys? They got no money.”
Enter Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who wasn’t having it. He hit back, calling O’Reilly a colonialist.
O’Reilly, unfazed and full of “main character energy,” clapped back with a condescending chuckle. He reminded Anwar that US household income per capita is five to eight times more than Malaysia’s, which is about as insightful as reminding us that America has more Kardashians per square mile.
Watch the video here.
“So if you want to buy a hat and you’re only making $5,000 a year, you’re not going to buy it,” he said, as if we’re all out here hatless and hopeless. “You’re not getting Chinese takeout either in Kuala Lumpur. You’re barely eating.”
Sir. We are literally eating Chinese food in Malaysia every day. It’s not takeout. It’s Thursday.
The thing is, Malaysians didn’t even bother giving a full slapback this time. We’ve collectively developed a sixth sense for spotting outdated Western takes dressed up as economic insight — and this one didn’t even deserve a proper roast. Why waste energy on a man who clearly hasn’t Googled “GDP PPP” since the Bush era, or figured out that economic strength isn’t just about absolute income, but what that income can buy in real life?
We simply laughed, shared the clip on WhatsApp with the caption “who is this uncle,” slapped on a few laughing emojis, and went back to scrolling Shopee deals. Because O’Reilly’s wrong. And more importantly, he’s irrelevant. He’s arguing from an economic playbook that doesn’t apply anymore — especially not in a region that’s been quietly outpacing expectations for years.
Let’s be real: the guy thinks his economic wisdom trumps ours because Americans make more money. Never mind that their healthcare bankrupts them, rent eats half their pay, and they think ramen noodles are a lifestyle. He believes dollars = intelligence. Anwar, meanwhile, dropped facts: O’Reilly’s worldview reeks of arrogance, ignorance, and that very special brand of Western exceptionalism that thinks only their way works.
But we Malaysians know better. We’ve been balancing budgets and beating inflation with kopitiam-level finesse long before it became a global struggle. We know how to stretch our ringgits — not just survive, but thrive on it. We know how to work hard, live decently, and eat better than 90% of the Americans for less than RM15 a meal — and that includes rice, two dishes, some kuihs and a glass of teh tarik on the side.
We raise families, run side hustles, pay our bills (mostly on time), and still manage to balik kampung during Raya with enough duit raya for the nieces and nephews. We know how to send our kids to school, keep the economy running, and still get the latest Xiaomi gadget shipped from Shenzhen in under a week — free shipping, of course, because who pays for that anymore?
So Bill, thanks for the concern. But we’re good. We’ll keep shopping on Taobao, slurping Meggi, and ignoring angry American pundits.
And if we want a hat? We’ll buy three. On sale. With free shipping.
Kamarul Azwan is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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