When we talk about manners, one thing we are often reminded of is to respect people and behave properly, especially when visiting another country.
But recently, a group of Malaysian tourists drew backlash online after videos of their behaviour in China went viral, with many netizens calling them rude, embarrassing, and disrespectful.
M’sian tourists allegedly called locals in China ‘smelly’
In one of the videos reshared on Threads, the group was seen queuing with other visitors while waiting to board a bus.
What caught netizens’ attention was how some of them reacted while standing among the crowd.
One of the women was seen covering her nose, while another could allegedly be heard shouting about the smell around them.
It smells so bad! Did none of you shower?” one of them allegedly said.
The reaction immediately rubbed many viewers the wrong way, especially as the group appeared to be speaking loudly in a public space while surrounded by locals.
Made similar comments about e-hailing driver
In a separate video, the tourists were also heard making comments about an e-hailing driver they had taken a ride with.
One of them allegedly claimed that the driver smelled bad and suggested that he had not showered.
I think he really smells bad. We already showered, you know. Chinese people smell bad. Lazy to shower.”
In another clip, the woman later said a different e-hailing driver smelled better, but appeared to continue using the word “smelly” loudly, which many believed was directed at locals they had encountered earlier.
‘Travel should make you more open, not more judgmental’
After the videos were reshared online, many Malaysians criticised the group’s actions.
For many, the issue was not simply that they found a smell unpleasant. What upset people more was the way they allegedly reacted in public, shouted, mocked others, and filmed local people’s faces while in their own country.
Some also said that as Malaysians travelling overseas, their behaviour could affect how others view Malaysian tourists as a whole.
One netizen said that if someone really could not stand a smell, they could quietly cover their nose instead of making it obvious and hurting others’ feelings.
Another pointed out that the “embarrassing part” was not the smell itself, but the way the tourist reacted.
“Travel should teach us to be more open, not more judgmental,” the netizen wrote.
The backlash soon spread beyond local comments, with some users saying the video had also gone viral on Chinese social media platforms.
Some Malaysians were seen apologising to Chinese users on behalf of the tourists, saying their actions did not represent all Malaysians.
Others reminded travellers that every country has different environments, habits, and cultures, and that being uncomfortable does not give anyone the right to insult people publicly.
View on Threads
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