Business website Forbes just found that out the hard way.
Who are you calling cheap?
An article published in Forbes has drawn criticism for encouraging Westerners to escape the high costs of living in their home countries and instead, choose cheaper developing nations to live in.The article, titled “Quit Your Job And Move To An Island: 15 Places So Cheap You Might Not Have To Work”, was written by senior contributor Laura Begley Bloom, and was targeted at North American expatriates who wants to retire overseas and cut the cost of living expenses.
In the article, she listed several locations as the place of choice for cheaper living.
Citing a report by International Living, among the cheaper alternatives suggested by the article include Phu Quoc, Bali, Koh Samui and Penang.
“Remote work is one thing, but why not just quit that day job and move to an island that’s so cheap you don’t have to work and can spend your life on permanent vacation?” she wrote in the article.
Quit your job and move to an island: 15 places so cheap you might not have to work https://t.co/yrTiw5yl5q pic.twitter.com/97KjqJmYiy
— Forbes (@Forbes) May 2, 2021
While we can certainly appreciate the fact that Westerners see Penang as a viable retirement option, there are those who are not too happy.
Many opined that such articles would only increase the cost of living in targeted countries for the locals.
Please stop publishing articles like this. It exploits locals who earn a comparatively low wage to their foreign counterparts, and drives up the cost of living for people who actually live there. https://t.co/CzdYHXhinW
— Nicole (@nic_kow) May 2, 2021
Boleh aja pindah ke tempat yang 'murah' , tapi jangan dieksploitasi yak tempatnya sampe bikin tips atau ngajak2 orang lain melawan hukum.
— Mr Frost - Om Bertanya Anda Menjawab ?️ (@FriendlyFrost) May 4, 2021
Jangan lupa kasus Kristen Gray: https://t.co/GGFfW4Vxch pic.twitter.com/t3978OcLTf
Nah dont come here and drive our housing price insane. Just visit and go. Dont live here lol
— resoloser ・°°・(＞_＜)・°°・。 (@resoloser2) May 3, 2021
Other netizens not from Malaysia echoed the same sentiments as our fellow Malaysians:
If you guys had the same visa requirements as us Asians you wouldn’t have included the word cheap in your article :) you can afford to do so because your freedom and value is not dependent on a list of documents.
— Kristine Caguiat (@cagsyy) May 2, 2021
Passages like this "Formerly a secret divers’ getaway, Roatan is now a livable island haven that’s popular with expats. Think white-sand beaches, rocky coves, colorful fishing villages and a mountainous jungly interior" literally ignore the fact that it is someone's HOME
— Dr. Maya (@drdrmaya) May 2, 2021
How about “demand your government to fix the national economy, so everyone can afford living cost and leave these islands from your neo colonialism” ?
— Unhinge (@tankienextdoor) May 3, 2021
This is disgusting. Please don’t go colonize other peoples’ homes. Stop taking advantage of native people in their lands. Let’s just focus on making our land more livable for the people that are here. https://t.co/uprI97HC7X
— Ta’ei (@tlaf01) May 3, 2021
However, there are those who sit on the other side of the fence, claiming that foreigners retiring on these developing countries is good for tourism and the economy.
What do you guys think about this?