Singaporeans have always had a knack for acknowledging our own culture quirks. From our somewhat odd food choices to the well-known reputation of being kiasu, we not only embrace these stereotypes, but are able to laugh at ourselves. Now, have you ever wondered what culture shocks our neighbours in Malaysia face when they come to Singapore? Especially Malaysians who actually stay among us?
We satisfy the kaypoh curious and inquisitive nature in you by interviewing some Malaysians living in Singapore. From our vernacular to the cost of living, here are the biggest culture shocks they experienced upon moving to our Little Red Dot.
Note: Responses have been edited for clarity. Some names have been changed for anonymity.
Believe me, I once roasted my Singaporean friends for their “pale bak kut teh” as well.
Image credit: Eatbook
“Controversial, I know. Please don’t revoke my Malaysian citizenship! Hahaha. While there are some dishes which always taste better in Malaysia, the food here is objectively not as bland and inferior as the jokes and memes make it out to be.
I also realised after a while that Singapore’s versions of some dishes have been adapted to suit local tastes, and incorporate elements of other cuisines to make a unique spin-off version. So don’t think of it as better or worse bak kut teh, laksa, or roti canai/prata – but a different rendition altogether.”
– Xavier, 26, hair stylist
Image credit: Eatbook
“Trust me, more expensive doesn’t mean better. Restaurant versions of hawker dishes are usually more fancily presented, but lack the oomph that’s present in simple kopitiam fare which can cost a tenth of the price in comparison.
As a foodie, I appreciate the fact that for its small size, Singapore has lots of international cuisines to offer. I’ve seen restaurants serving authentic Burmese, Nepalese, Sri Lankan, and even Russian food. Peninsula Plaza, in particular, is such a treasure trove of Burmese delicacies that the entire building has been nicknamed “Little Myanmar’’.”
– Nathia, 32, hotel receptionist
“I’ve heard jokes of queuing behind Singapore’s “national sport”, but I always thought it’d be for things that are really a must-get, like big sales and sought-after releases like Pop Mart collections or the McDonald’s x Hello Kitty collab. In my time here, I’ve seen people forming snaking queues for the most minute of perks, like getting a free sample of a promotional drink.
I work in the CBD, which is a hotspot for pop-up events. Sometimes, my colleagues ask me to join them to queue for pop-up samples just as a way to take a break from work – and score a little freebie at the end. I applaud Singaporeans’ endurance. I get a little mind-blown at how they are able to stand for hours at a time and get rejuvenated when they get the goods at the end.”
– Jing Yi, 31, financial analyst
“In the early days at my job, I was advised by my colleagues to suss out how delicious a kopitiam stall’s offerings are by the length of the queue. After all, it must be testament of their food’s standard if they manage to attract so many customers, right? Well, it turns out that many Singaporeans have a mindset of “got queue = good stuff”, so they join in when they see a line forming.
This leads to more and more customers following suit, and at the end, the food might not even be that great. This is a lesson I learnt the hard way, and funnily enough, the way I determine where to dabao my lunch now is to find the stall with the shortest, or no queue. It’s to save time, and for me to potentially discover a hidden gem. Alternatively, I give the eatery a quick search online to see if they have mostly positive Google ratings.”
– Mikael, 34, IT engineer
I thought all Singaporeans were judgemental tai-tai types, by default.
“As someone who did not receive much higher education, the thought of communicating in day-to-day life once I moved to Singapore stressed me out. Even for things like ordering food or talking to service staff, I felt very self-conscious that people would recognise my accent or judge me for not speaking more “properly”.
It was to the point where I tried to keep my mouth shut as much as possible, and try to communicate in just nods or going “mm”. Over time, I realised that the general public does not care, or even notice whether or not you speak in posh or “perfect” English. I also love the incorporations of Malay and Hokkien in Singlish and Singaporean slang; it makes me feel a lot more connected and “in the know” with people I talk to here.”
– Kiat Wee, 26, chef
“I was told that Singapore mainly uses English for communication in public, with things like official signs being stated in the country’s 4 official languages. To my surprise, Malay terms are thrown into everyday exchanges a lot, but it took me a long time to pick up on the fact that they’re Malay words, because it often gets butchered severely.
I remember almost laughing out loud when I heard my colleagues casually drop Malay word mispronunciations like “tombalek” instead of “terbalik”, and “baluku” instead of “buah duku”. It makes me so curious, where and how did it go so wrong? No offense guys! Always happy to help point out the right pronunciation.”
– Asyraf, 29, security supervisor
“Before moving here, I’d always envisioned Singapore to be purely made up of skyscrapers, and look and feel a bit soulless. Turns out, there are many pretty parks across the small country. My favourite is when architecture gets blended with nature, giving the “garden city” vibe.
CapitaSpring Green Oasis is one of the best examples where lush greenery creeps into the concrete jungle. I also love to explore different neighbourhood parks with my partner every weekend, going on cycling dates or just having a stroll. It’s a good way to get our steps in!
We like that there are dedicated park connectors with clear-cut paths for walking and cycling. When we want to really go ham, we try to conquer a hiking trail or two.
I was also very surprised that bird-spotting is quite a big thing among local communities. While I’m not that much of an enthusiast myself, the excitement rubs off on me when I’m chilling at a park and some excited uncles and aunties carrying binoculars cheer over a rare sighting.”
– Nathia, 32, hotel receptionist
“Coming to Singapore to study, I heard many stereotypes that Singaporean guys only become “real men” after they go through 2 years of National Service (NS). This warped my perception a lot when it came to dating as I felt that I could only consider post-ORD guys, otherwise they’d lack maturity and toughness.
Image adapted from: Netflix
It was so prevalent that my girl friends would disapprove of anyone in the friend group going out with a suitor who had either yet to enlist, or yet to complete the 2 years. Of course, this mindset probably resulted from just a handful of horror stories that got passed down over the years, and are not representative of local dudes across the board.
Now I realise that NS isn’t some magical phase of life that can flip the switch on what a guy is like. It really boils down to the individual. Sounds obvious, I know. But for a period of time, I seriously subscribed to the belief that upon the ORD ceremony, the entire group of people would suddenly transform into next-level macho men.”
– Jesslyn, 26, retail associate
“Yes, there are a lot of things that shocked me to my core when I picked up the price tag. A lot of my Malaysian peers still feel that Singapore is cripplingly expensive to live in, especially with all the news in recent years about hitting new cost of living records, and the GST hikes.
It takes a bit of digging, but there are cheap ways to settle your food and shopping. The most common one would be hawker food, which is not only a stomach filler for around $4-$6 but can also taste quite good. For shopping, my partner and I like to check Daiso Singapore first to see if they have what we need at cheap prices, like crockery and even basic cookware.”
– Mikael, 34, IT engineer
“A lot of attractions in Singapore have pretty high ticket prices, so I would only splurge on them if my family from Malaysia are visiting. My #1 date spot with my boyfriend is Jewel Changi! It’s pretty, has a lot of shops to jalan jalan around, and there’s free air-con.
Gardens by the Bay also has free-to-roam areas, and a nightly music and light show, just like the Rain Vortex one at Jewel Changi. I think I just love music and light shows haha. When I’m feeling bored over the weekends, I’ll do some research for free things to do in Singapore or free date ideas.”
– Jing Yi, 31, financial analyst
Whether you find these culture shocks eye-opening or chuckle-worthy, one thing’s for certain: there’s an unspoken connection between Singapore and Malaysia that’s just so wholesome. If you’re a Malaysian working in Singapore or know someone who fits the bill, we’ve got a lobang to share with you: a suite of digital services under Maybank Beyond Borders.
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This post was brought to you by Maybank Singapore.
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