“Americans Don’t Have Instant Bank Transfer” And Other Things Malaysians Discovered About Other Countries

One Twitter user recently posed a question to Malaysians asking, “What discoveries about overseas countries that are mind-blowing to you?” She shared that to her, it was surprising that the UK didn’t have a water purifier concept like Cuckoo, Coway, SK Magic that Malaysians have become accustomed to. The post quickly blew up as netizens chimed in to share some discoveries that were most surprising to them.

One filled in that it was the norm for girls in the UK to attend class without showering but to wear make-up. Err…beauty over B.O., we suppose? Also, if someone in Malaysia asks, “Hi, how are you?”, it would be to hear how the other person is doing but over there, it is more of a greeting.

Dekat UK, my classmate pergi class tak mandi tapi makeup pakai, and it’s normal for them.Also it’s common for them to say “hi how are you” wpun dia bukan kisah pon nak tahu kau sihat ke tak sbnrnye ? More like greeting je

— Maria Teea (@MariaLesfonds) July 9, 2022

Future parents might want to hop on a plane and emigrate to Canada to work instead because the benefits alone would make it totally worth it. Meanwhile when Malaysian fathers are away for a week, their bosses already start calling. Haiyo:

In Canada, maternity leave is 12 months. Yep, 1 whole year. Paternity leave 3 months

— Mohd Fathuddin (@fa2din) July 9, 2022

While many of us leave the house without any ringgit notes with cashless systems such as GrabPay and Touch ‘n Go eWallet in place, in the USA they don’t even use instant bank transfers. And people say Malaysia is not ‘canggih’. Eh, we not bad one, okay!

They don’t have normal instant bank transfer btw.That’s why they have PayPal, CashApp and etc.No PayWave or Cashless systems as well.I know, it shocked me too. ?? https://t.co/Aw4Y20OdOl

— Maisarah Radhi (@maimaimai95) July 7, 2022

Vehicle detection sensors in parking lots have been introduced in Malaysian malls for as long as we can remember. Apparently to Americans though, ‘Disney is lowkey living in the future’. We’re lowkey chortling.

Aku jam jap tgk ni. America, literally the most powerful country in the world allegedly, just discovered how to make parking system efficient ?? pic.twitter.com/HH99viYmJ6

— izzah ibrahim (@izzahibrahim__) July 3, 2022

Our mothers would have had a heart attack if they left us unattended for more than five minutes as a child. Scenarios of abduction and homicide would be flashing before their eyes. However, Scandinavians are pretty chill folk frequently leave their babies sleeping in prams outside restaurants even in Winter. Brrr!!!

In sweden it's fairly normal to just leave your napping kid outside in the stroller while you're in a restaurant. Even nurseries do this. Even when it's winter. They say babies sleep better in the cold.

— ? LLW. Angking  (@LissaLaila) July 8, 2022

Certain cities in countries such as Colombia and the Philippines have introduced a car rationing system to ban cars from driving on the road on certain days or times depending on the last number of their license plates. Hmm, maybe we need this in KL to combat the bumper to bumper traffic.

Baru tahu dekat colombia, kita xleh bawak kereta hari2... they make a timetable mcm on monday car with even numbers registered number je cn be on road, teusday those with odd number. To reduce pollution

— Alia Aziz (@alia_nadira) July 9, 2022

In Malaysia, food is life and life is food. And some food just tastes better with a dollop of chilli sauce. Even better if it’s our very own Lingham’s Chilli Sauce. Imagine eating KFC without chilli sauce! Better pack our own for our next trip.

NOBODY EATS CHILI SAUCE LIKE MALAYSIA. WE HAVE THE BEST CHILI SAUCE. OTHER PLACES PUT KETCHUP IN EVERYTHING, HAVE WEAK CHILI SAUCE OR THIS ABOMINATION CALLED "TOMATOCHILI SAUCE" https://t.co/VZbYgd73nA

— Iman Tanita(pir) (@notorioustapir) July 9, 2022