Malaysia food better than Singapore's, says US traveller
This time, an American who spends considerable time in Malaysia has weighed in with a bold assertion that our neighbours make better food, and at just a third the price.
Brent Farris, who describes himself on Facebook as being from Eldorado, Illinois and currently living in St Charles, Missouri, is a regular contributor to the public Facebook group, Travel Tips Malaysia .
From his frequent posts in the group, it appears he's spent a fair bit of time in the country.
On June 25, he posted this hot take:
"Here goes. I'm going to say something quite controversial. If it offends you, I apologise in advance. Ok, I'm not sorry.
"Anything you can find in Singapore (food wise) you can find in Malaysia for one-third the price, and tastes better.
"And, Singapore's national fruit is the durian. I'm sure they love durian, but they don't grow any. Malaysia originated it and the durian from Malaysia is better than any durian grown anywhere in the world. Sorry, Thailand.
There, I said it. Whew that feels like a weight has been lifted. I've been wanting to say this for years."
That post has since gone viral, racking up over 17,000 reactions, more than 1,400 comments, and over 800 shares.
Melvin Chew with the late Anthony Bourdain. PHOTO: Courtesy of Melvin Chew
Melvin Chew, 47, owner of Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck and Kway Chap in Chinatown Point, was unfazed by the American traveller's judgment when The New Paper spoke to him.
"Taste can be subjective," said Mr Chew, chewing on the matter. But it's all monosodium glutamate, a flavour enhancer, he added.
"Maybe the Malaysian food stalls which he went to, the cze char stalls he visited, are managed heavily by a Japanese master, Mr Ajinomoto - hence the taste is very good," he quipped.
"When he comes to Singapore, his friend Mr Ajimamoto, who has no passport, stays in Malaysia."
Mr Chew believes that Mr Farris' post was made to gain attention.
"We will not blame him for his assessment of Singapore food, as we know attention seekers are very kay kiang. (Hokkien for "act smart", but not really.) He thinks he is Anthony Bourdain, is it? More like Anthony Bo Bi Sor (Anthony "bad taste", in Hokkien)," he added in immaculate Singlish.
"So please don't let a non-professional food critic spoil our good relationship with our neighbours."
Melvin Chua with his King. PHOTO: Courtesy of Melvin Chua
Meanwhile, durian boss Melvin Chua, 54, who owns Durian Garden at 42 Cambridge Road, seemed perplexed that an American would think that the durian was Singapore's national fruit.
"National fruit? I've never heard of that in my 12 years of selling durian," said Mr Chua as he was packing up for the night at his stall when The New Paper approached him about the thorny issue.
"Unofficially, maybe, because we are not an agricultural country. Malaysia has a greater right to claim it as their national fruit," he said, while offering us a piece of the pungent fruit.
"We know it better as the King of Fruits. But the durian is king in Malaysia as well as in Thailand. We are all part of the durian's huge empire," he added. "And it is OK to share the king.
"
The penny dropped when we explained that the proclamation was made by a traveller from the United States.
"They don't have kings there, do they? So he probably wouldn't know or understand," noted Mr Chua, wiping his fingers.
"Oh wait, they have Donald Trump!" he said, chuckling. "So we really shouldn't take this guy too seriously. But Happy Independence Day, anyway."
Benny Se Teo. PHOTO: Courtesy of Benny Se Teo
Meanwhile, renowned Singapore chef, restaurateur and social entrepreneur Benny Se Teo agreed - at least partially - with Mr Farris' view. Mainly, on durians.
Not so about his view on food, though.
"Oh Brent," said the celebrity chef. "Bless your adventurous palate! We're glad Malaysia gave your taste buds a budget-friendly thrill … just remember - if food were only about price, instant noodles would win Michelin stars.
"But hey, thanks for the review," added Mr Se Teo.
"Come back to Singapore when your stomach needs Wi-Fi, safety, and a napkin."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
New Penang hotel blends coastal and cultural charm
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The view of the pool at M Social Resort Penang, the first M Social property in Malaysia, which had a grand opening in July 2025. PENANG – M Social Resort Penang has opened on the coast of the Malaysian state, with dreamy sea views, an artificial intelligence (AI) voice butler and local fare as delicious as the island's famed street food. The official launch of the property on July 9, the chain's debut in Malaysia, marks an expansion of Singapore hospitality brand Millennium Hotels & Resorts (MHR) during a landmark year in which the brand turns 30. 'As the first M Social property in Malaysia and the seventh globally, its opening underscores our ongoing focus on lifestyle innovation and regional expansion,' says Mr Saurabh Prakash, MHR's interim chief operating officer and chief commercial officer. He was at the hotel's grand opening alongside VIPs like the Governor of Penang, His Excellency Ramli Ngah Talib, and Mr Kwek Leng Beng, the billionaire executive chairman of MHR, Singapore property giant City Developments Limited (CDL), as well as parent conglomerate Hong Leong Group Singapore. MHR, a subsidiary of CDL that was established in 1995, operates over 145 properties across four continents in cities like New York, Paris, London, Beijing, Dubai and Singapore. Its portfolio includes the M Social and Copthorne brands. The first M Social hotel, designed by iconic French designer and architect Philippe Starck, opened in Robertson Quay in Singapore in 2016. Here are four reasons to check into its latest property. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Japan PM Ishiba apologises to his party for election loss, vows to stay in office to deal with US tariff talks Business $1.1 billion allocated to three fund managers to boost Singapore stock market: MAS Singapore Spirits distribution company Proof & Company Spirits closes Singapore business Singapore Malaysia-bound motorists urged to avoid Tuas Second Link on July 23 due to chemical spill exercise Singapore Trial of new dengue vaccine begins recruitment for child participants in Singapore Singapore Mandai Wildlife Group group CEO Mike Barclay to retire; Bennett Neo named as successor Singapore Fresh charge for woman who harassed nurse during pandemic, created ruckus at lion dance competition Singapore Witness stand not arena for humiliation in sex offence cases, judge reminds lawyers 1. Stay between the beaches and the city The hotel exterior of M Social Resort Penang. PHOTO: M SOCIAL RESORT PENANG Penang culture is baked into the design of this 318-room hotel. Peranakan tiles are a key motif, from the hotel rooms to the lift floors. Feature walls have large murals with local symbols, from the anime-eyed, dusky leaf monkey to the Penang Bridge that links to the mainland. Formerly known as the Copthorne Orchid Hotel Penang before it underwent a year-long refurbishment from April 2024, the hotel's plum location is a 10-minute, RM9 (S$2.70) Grab ride to street food haven Gurney Drive in Penang's lively capital, George Town, at one end, and the relaxing beaches of Batu Ferringhi in the opposite direction. Its Tanjung Bungah neighbourhood has a peaceful row of hotels interspersed with homes. The gleeful squeals of a child – who looks to be trampolining as her barely visible head bobs up and down – float up from a house next door to my hotel room on the 14th floor. Flagship restaurant Beast & Butterflies has floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out on a rhapsody in blue. The azure pool, with swimmers flopping on hot pink inflatables, forms the bottom third of the view. In the middle of the frame lies the wide Andaman Sea, which has its own tiny islet, Pulau Tikus (Rat Island in Malay), which the famous hawker enclave in George Town is named after. This three-layered visual cocktail is topped by the ever-changing sky. 2. Be uplifted by scents A hotel staff member poses in front of a mural in the main lobby at M Social Resort Penang, the first M Social property in Malaysia. ST PHOTO: VENESSA LEE Stepping into the hotel lobby is a sensory experience. I swig a welcome drink – brightly redolent of apple, cinnamon and pandan – in its tasteful, creamy interiors. Within days, I am mildly hooked on the hotel's signature scent, Legendary by Singapore company Engel's Sense, which has notes of Madagascar vanilla. Further olfactory adventures may be on the horizon. I take part in an aromatherapy workshop at the hotel, sniffing 10 essential oils. Who knew that 20 lemons are used to make just 5ml of lemon essential oil or that geranium smells like the rose syrup in bandung? The instructor from Malaysian essential oil company Franoe helps me create my own signature blend of cedarwood and lime, which sounds woodsy, but instead reminds me of cosy teddy bears. The hotel is looking into aromatherapy and cocktail-making workshops for its guests in the future, says a spokesperson. 3. Hawker favourites The Beast & Butterflies restaurant, which serves Malaysian and international cuisine at M Social Resort Penang, PHOTO: M SOCIAL RESORT PENANG Too languorous to venture outdoors? Tuck in at the Beast & Butterflies restaurant, which serves a respectable take on Penang's hawker food. Ikan merah (red snapper), Penang hokkien mee and sup kambing (mutton soup) are standouts, as is the ginger-spiked jackfruit creme brulee. Weekend buffets start at RM98 an adult. The chef is a dab hand at elevating humble ingredients. The breakfast buffet's moreish roti canai, thinner and less chewy than roti prata in Singapore, is better than some versions I try at hawker stalls in Penang. I have to stop shoving in mouthfuls of a side dish of fried cabbage, whose umami quotient is boosted by a liberal sprinkling of hae bee (dried shrimp). 4. My friend, AI The rooms at M Social Resort Penang range in size from 32 to 160 sq m. PHOTO: M SOCIAL RESORT PENANG There are no phones in the hotel rooms, which range in size from 32 to 160 sq m. Instead, like six of MHR's Singapore hotels, in-room services are powered by the Aiello device, which runs on AI. My requests are logged when I say 'Hello AI' out loud, activating the AI voice assistant, which looks like an analogue alarm clock. This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, where I lie on my deeply comfortable hotel bed and ask Aiello anything under the sun. What time is the sunrise tomorrow? What are the tourist attractions nearby? Can I get extra tea bags? The road to friendship is slightly bumpy, nonetheless. Aiello does not always reply in that ubiquitous, soothing woman's voice that all robots seem to aspire to. Sometimes, my request is met with an awkward silence. I find out that it is my fault. How I say 'Hello AI' sometimes doesn't land. I put on a range of funny voices – male, female, loud, soft, Mickey Mouse – in the name of scientific research. It turns out that I just need to speak loudly and clearly enough. There are limits, though, to my one-sided demands that even the unfailingly courteous Aiello cannot meet. She can summon the front desk to deliver my 11pm request of ice for my drinks, but the buck stops with integrating all hotel systems to my convenience. 'Turn down my air-con, please,' I ask. Aeillo replies: 'To turn down the air-conditioning in your room, you can use the air-conditioner control panel. Unfortunately, I can't.'
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
How to fly long-haul with a baby
A little planning and a few handy tricks might make the daunting task of flying with a baby less stressful. NEW YORK – 'Try flying any plane with a baby if you want a sense of what it must have been like to be a leper in the fourteenth century,' wrote American journalist, film-maker and author Nora Ephron in her 1983 novel Heartburn. That is not too far off. And I would know, as it was not long ago that I flew 19 hours across the world with my three-month-old. A newborn or young infant cannot be reasoned with, nor can he or she sit in front of a screen or snack on treats. What do you pack for an infant on a long flight? Where do you even put the baby? And that is all before accounting for the side eye you get from fellow passengers bracing themselves for screaming and crying. A little groundwork, though, can go a long way towards easing some of that stress, said Mr James Howard, a Delta Air Lines cabin manager and father of a toddler. You might even enjoy it, he added. Advance planning If you know you will travel in the first few months of your baby's life, you can add your child to your airline ticket even before he or she is born , said Mr Brian Kelly, founder of the Points Guy website and a father of two. Your airline would use a placeholder name – usually 'Baby' and your last name. Then, closer to your travel dates, update your booking with your child's legal name. For most domestic US flights, infants can travel free on the lap of an accompanying adult, though many experts do not think this is safe. On international flights, you might be charged a portion of your fare. Navigating check-in Breast milk and formula in your carry-on are not subject to the Transportation Security Administration's liquids limit, meaning you can take along large quantities of them on board. You will, however, need to take them out for screening. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore No unified guidelines? Animal shelters chart their own paths on welfare standards Asia Tearful relatives await news of Vietnam boat capsize rescue as death toll rises to 38 Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy 'I always tell parents to have the agents change their gloves before they do that because I don't know what they've touched,' said Dr Lauren Hughes. The paediatrician at Bloom Pediatrics in Kansas City, Kansas, has become popular on social media for sharing practical infant and toddler tips and tricks. If you know you have to get through a large airport, Mr Kelly recommends taking a foldable stroller that would fit in the overhead compartment with you rather than one you need to check in, which might get damaged or need to be picked up at an oversized luggage counter. Another option is to pack a baby carrier so you can keep your hands free through the airport, said Ms Christy Slavik, owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel. Seating choices Though having an infant sit in your lap is allowed, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that babies be strapped into car seats during flights and advises against holding them in your lap. That does require you to buy a seat that is certified for flying and you should check whether the plane will have the right seat belts to secure it. Most business or first class cabins do not, said Mr Kelly. Getting an extra seat also ensures that in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, there would be an oxygen mask at the ready for the baby too, said Dr Hughes. If they were on your lap, one might not drop down for them but would be made available if you requested it. For longer international flights, it might be worth booking a bassinet for the baby to sleep in, said Mr Howard . Airline bassinets are free and can be requested through the airline reservations team, but they are available only on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be used during take-off, landing or during heavy turbulence. You also cannot hold your baby in a carrier for take-off and landing. Some international flights will provide an infant seat belt to loop around your baby on your lap that then attaches to your own seat belt for take-off and landing. Keeping your baby happy, healthy and clean When it comes to the safety of your infant, the biggest risk, said Dr Hughes, is the infection risk of being in an enclosed space. 'A fever in a child under 60 days old is an emergency, so my general guidance is to wait until at least 60 days old' to get them on a flight, she added. Also, pack a first aid kit in your carry-on that contains bandages; an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for itchy, irritated skin; a topical antibiotic for cuts and scrapes; as well as infant versions of Tylenol, ibuprofen and an antihistamine, Dr Hughes said. To make sure babies are comfortable during the change in air pressure at take-off and landing, offer them a bottle or a pacifier or nurse them in those moments, Dr Hughes added, as the sucking can help with the ear-popping sensation. And ideally, you could try to time your flights around naps or take a night flight so that your baby can sleep for at least some part of the journey, she said. Diaper changes on flights can be a little tricky. Bathrooms that feel uncomfortably small for an adult, can feel even smaller with the addition of a baby and a diaper bag. According to Mr Howard, there should be at least one diaper-changing table on every aircraft. But before taking your baby into the shoebox of a bathroom, make sure your wipes and fresh diapers are easily accessible with one hand as there is not much space or time to fumble around searching for them in the depths of your carry-on bag, he said. That might mean you go in first and set up the diaper changing table while your partner or a crew member holds the baby. 'In my almost eight years of flying, I have helped watch children while the parent has gone to the restroom, I have helped install car seats, I've helped break down strollers and store items,' Mr Howard said. 'As a parent, it's important to remember that any extra pair of hands you can get is great.' NYTIMES
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - Long queues formed at all major entry points across Malaysia after a data integration disruption led to a breakdown in the autogate system for foreign visitors. Tens of thousands of foreigners, including Singaporeans, were unable to use the autogate facility, The Star reported on July 19. Malaysian passport holders were unaffected. The breakdown, which started at about noon on July 18, was described as the worst ever, involving more than 200 autogates across the country. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) confirmed the "technical disruption" in a statement on Facebook at around 4.30pm on July 19. It added that initial investigations pointed to a data integration disruption, which caused delays in the cross-checking process within the MyIMMS system. Among the major gateways affected were Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) terminals 1 and 2, and the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complexes at Bagunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB). BSI and KSAB are both in Johor, and are used by travellers entering Malaysia from Singapore's Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints respectively. AKPS said it has activated all manual immigration counters and deployed additional personnel, among other measures, to lessen the congestion. "AKPS is making every effort to restore the system and restore movement at all entry points in the country," it added. At about 5.45pm, AKPS said on Facebook that autogate operations at BSI have partially resumed. "The flow of light vehicle traffic is moving slightly slowly towards the BSI entry check zone while the flow of visitors in the bus passenger hall is back under control," it said. The AKPS first alerted travellers to the disruption on its Facebook pages for BSI and KSAB on July 18 at 4.40pm and 10.50pm respectively. The posts said that there was an interruption of access to the Immigration Service System at both locations. On July 19 at around 11.30am, the AKPS BSI Facebook page said that "the flow of visitors in the bus passenger hall was congested following the disruption of the autogate check system". It added that there was no congestion at other immigration check zones inside the building. Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said in a Facebook post on July 19: "Travellers intending to travel to Malaysia via the land checkpoints are to expect delays. Those who are already at the land checkpoints and need to U-turn can approach officers for assistance." Private tutor Jane Oh, 63, who was on a durian day trip in Johor with her neighbours, told The Straits Times that she could not use the autogate at KSAB when she arrived on July 19 at around 6.10am. She said that the Malaysian officials then opened the manual counters, and she and her group cleared immigration at around 6.45am. However, Oh's guide told her that another group of passengers that reached KSAB at around 8am cleared immigration at only around 1pm. "We're very lucky not to be caught in the jam this morning, but we're a bit worried about how bad the queue will be when we return after dinner," said Oh. Her worries proved unfounded, as she took about 15 minutes to clear immigration on the way back to Singapore. She started queueing at 7.32pm and was done by 7.45pm, with four manual counters operating. The autogates were working, but she and her group could not use them, as they had used the manual counters on arrival in Malaysia. Chelsea Teh, 25, who works in the education industry, said that she was in the queue at BSI for about one and a half hours. She added that it was "stuffy and poorly ventilated", and she saw some people leaving the queues to return to Singapore. A Malaysian security official told The Star that tens of thousands of people, mainly Singaporeans, have been queuing at BSI for more than four hours to clear immigration. "Weekends are a busy period and immigration officers have been told to open all lanes to clear the passports manually," the official said, adding that there are 39 autogates at the exit and 29 autogates for entry. Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said in a Facebook post on July 19 that he was deeply disappointed to hear of the system disruption, which lasted more than 24 hours and caused congestion. Adding that he had paid a surprise visit to BSI, he said: "I have extended this matter directly to relevant parties at the federal level. I urge immediate steps to be taken to ensure that this issue does not repeat." Malaysian People's Volunteer Corps personnel were deployed to man the huge influx of visitors at the two land checkpoints with Singapore, according to The Star. The Johor-Singapore Causeway, which links Woodlands Checkpoint and BSI, is one of the world's busiest border crossings, with an estimated 300,000 people using the connection daily. From May 8 to 13, during the Vesak Day long weekend, more than three million people crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. The crowd peaked on May 9 at over 546,600 travellers. Since Jan 20, 2023, Singaporeans have been able to use the electronic gate facilities at the two land checkpoints. In February 2023, this was extended to the autogate facilities at KLIA 1 and 2. [[nid:720205]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
