by JoeGetz 20 June 2026
A recent incident involving a group of Malaysian tourists in China has exposed something far more pungent than any alleged body odour: a profound crisis of character, entitlement, and basic human decency. The videos, originally posted by TikTok user @ekyn.wong, showed Malaysian travellers filming strangers, covering their noses, and making derogatory remarks in Malay about Chinese locals—calling them "stinky," asking if they "don't bathe," and complaining about an e-hailing driver's supposed body odour 1,10.
The backlash was swift and deserved. Fellow Malaysians condemned the behaviour as "distasteful and unacceptable," with one commenter noting, "As a Malaysian passport holder, you represent our country whether you realise it or not" 7. Another warned that such "rude conduct could jeopardise other Malaysians abroad," particularly students and expatriates who would now be tarred with the same brush 1.
And yet, rather than offering a simple apology, the content creator has responded with something far more telling: legal threats. Nur Asyiqin binti Mohd Dalil, known online as "ekynwong," issued a formal statement claiming she has initiated legal action against those who made "defamatory statements" and "spread false information" affecting her "good name, reputation and integrity" 4,6. She has threatened anyone continuing to share criticism with legal consequences.
The Irony Is Staggering
Let us be clear: the video was her creation. The words were her speech. The camera was pointed by her hand at unsuspecting strangers in a foreign country. Recording people without consent, mocking them in a language presumed to be incomprehensible, and posting the footage online for entertainment is not just rude—it is a fundamental violation of dignity and privacy.
The irony of claiming defamation when the evidence of one's own behaviour is publicly available is almost too rich to process. Defamation requires false statements. The public is not spreading falsehoods; they are responding to what the creator herself chose to broadcast to the world.
The Social Media Paradox
This incident illuminates a dark reality of our digital age. Social media platforms have become spaces where performative cruelty is rewarded with engagement, where "content" is prioritised over conscience, and where the line between public and private has been obliterated.
Research on online public shaming reveals that people who witness such behaviour are often faced with an ethical dilemma: whether to participate in the shaming or stand against it. These acts enforce societal norms by humiliating those who violate them, but as this case shows, the "violation" can be the perpetrator's own arrogance 3. What makes this situation particularly perverse is that the tourists attempted to humiliate others but instead became the objects of humiliation themselves—and their response was not contrition but legal intimidation.
The study also highlights that the perception of social acceptability drives engagement. Content perceived as socially unacceptable generates outrage—and outrage, ironically, drives views. The videos garnered over 920,000 views and thousands of comments 1,2. The platform rewards what it should condemn.
The Entitlement Mindset
What possesses someone to travel to another country, enjoy its hospitality, and then mock its citizens? This is not ignorance; it is arrogance dressed up as content creation. The tourists believed that because they were speaking Malay, their insults would go unnoticed. They assumed a position of superiority, treating locals as objects to be filmed and ridiculed rather than as hosts to be respected.
This is not about cultural sensitivity; it is about basic human decency. One commenter captured it perfectly: "You can't buy manners and class" 5. Travelling should open minds, not reinforce prejudices. If you cannot respect the people of the country you are visiting, you have no business being there.
The Diplomatic Fallout
The incident comes at a delicate time for Malaysia-China relations. In 2024, Malaysia received 3.7 million travellers from China, representing a 130.9% increase from the previous year. Chinese Ambassador Ouyang Yujing recently stated that Malaysia is "very welcome" in China and that the government would continue to optimise policies to make travel "even more convenient and comfortable" 7,9.
This incident threatens to sour that goodwill. While rational observers understand that one group does not represent an entire nation, perceptions matter. The videos have circulated on Chinese social media, drawing understandable anger. Malaysian netizens have attempted damage control, apologising to Chinese viewers and stating that "one person's actions don't represent all Malaysians" 5. But the damage is done.
The tourists' actions—and their subsequent legal threats—suggest an alarming lack of accountability. Rather than acknowledging wrongdoing and apologising, the response has been to circle the wagons and threaten critics. This is not leadership; it is defensiveness dressed up as legal posturing.
A Word on Body Odour and Cultural Sensitivity
It is worth addressing the substance of the complaint: body odour. In summer heat, crowded public spaces inevitably carry a range of smells. Body odour can be influenced by diet, genetics, climate, and personal habits. None of this makes anyone "dirty" or inferior. To single out a group for mockery based on a characteristic that many cannot control is not just insensitive—it is racist.
As one commentator observed, "The most disrespectful part is… you recorded their faces, insulted them and posted it on your social media. Wow, just wow" 1. The act of filming strangers without consent, mocking them, and using it as entertainment for followers shows a profound lack of empathy.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
This incident should serve as a wake-up call. Travel is a privilege, not a platform for performative superiority. Malaysian tourists carry their country's reputation with them wherever they go—whether they acknowledge it or not. There is no excuse for this behaviour, and there is certainly no justification for legal threats against those who rightfully call it out.
To the tourists involved: put down the phone, reflect on your actions, and offer a genuine apology—not to avoid legal consequences, but because it is the right thing to do. The world has enough division and disrespect without adding performative cruelty to the mix. Malaysia deserves better representatives abroad, and the people of China deserve better guests.
Reference
- https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3357374/malaysian-tourists-china-scorned-calling-locals-smelly?module=AI_Recommended_for_you_In-house&pgtype=section
- https://www.vietnam.vn/en/du-khach-malaysia-thanh-toi-do-vi-che-mui-che-bai-nguoi-trung-quoc
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12329387/
- https://theonlinecitizen.com/2026/06/19/malaysian-influencer-issues-legal-warning-after-china-travel-videos-spark-backlash
- https://www.egltours.com/promotion/fit_banner/actualLive.html?live-news-12964678-2026-06-18-malaysia-stinky-malaysian-tourists-in-china-slammed-for-mocking-locals-personal-
- https://www.8world.com/southeast-asia/malaysian-tourist-in-china-3186186
- https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3357374/malaysian-tourists-china-scorned-calling-locals-smelly?module=latest&pgtype=homepage
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-025-03032-z
- https://m.toutiao.com/w/1868305089886219/?upstream_biz=toutiao_pc#comment
- https://mothership.sg/2026/06/msian-tourists-slammed-mocking-china-locals/
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