Social media erupts over claim that Bangkok outshines Kuala Lumpur

 

A HEALTHY dose of love for one’s country or city is never a bad thing. But when that love converts into criticisms towards the city of another nation, expect some bashing to happen, which strangely at times, can be educational.

And the fire starter is none other than an individual with the name of Zema Koote, who claimed that Bangkok was 400 times better than Kuala Lumpur.

In his own words, Mr Zema Koote said, “Bangkok is 400 times cleaner and more beautiful than Kuala Lumpur, and 400 times more developed and with 400 times more tourists.”

How true is that? Thankfully we need not look far for any clarification because our fellow Malaysian keyboard warriors are more than happy to educate him in the comment section.

“It is not intelligent if the number of tourists is used as an indicator of modernisation status. Do you want KL to be developed because of sex tourism? People might come to visit for the wrong reasons. We want to invite the right mass of people here,” said @mrsimperr.

A hard hitting @Slowdivex added that Bangkok without prostitutes is nothing.

Another netizen even consulted with Grok the AI about the legitimacy of Zema Koote’s claim. This was Grok’s reply:

“I do not know of any super advanced country but still uses the Tuk Tuk which has the engine of a grass cutter,” continued @ifeelzen1, making a jab at the  iconic, brightly decorated, three-wheeled auto rickshaws.

Surprisingly, a Singaporean who is supposedly bitter rivals with Malaysians came to our defense. “I am a Singaporean but even I know that KL is cleaner than Bangkok. The quality of air in Bangkok also causes breathing difficulties,” he said.

Then there was a sarcastic @Deegee4646 pointing out that it was better that there are less tourists in Malaysia, and to have them all go to Bangkok instead.

On another note, how widespread is the prostitution problem in Thailand? “Thailand’s cultural attitudes towards sex also play a role in the widespread acceptance of prostitution,” said the website Thailand Explained. 

Although Thailand can be socially conservative in certain respects, attitudes toward sex tend to be more relaxed compared to many countries shaped by stricter Muslim or Christian norms, where sex work often carries heavier stigma.

As one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, Thailand attracts millions of international visitors each year. This large flow of travelers has helped fuel a significant sex tourism industry.

With strong demand and some foreign visitors willing to spend generously, an informal market continues to exist to meet that demand, said Thailand Explained.

Because much of the industry operates discreetly, getting precise figures on prostitution in Thailand is difficult.

Various studies have produced very broad estimates, ranging from several hundred thousand to well over two million people involved in sex work. The true number remains uncertain due to the hidden nature of the trade.

In Bangkok, several well-known nightlife zones are associated with adult entertainment, alongside numerous other venues such as massage parlours, karaoke lounges, and go-go bars.

Similar scenes can also be found in other popular tourist centres including Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, where nightlife and tourism are closely linked. —  Focus Malaysia