British TikToker Praises Malaysia's Cultural Harmony

By Ahmad Erwan Othman

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- A TikTok influencer, Greg Larcombe, known for his channel @greggetseverywhere, captured the hearts of viewers with his recent video celebrating Malaysia’s remarkable cultural diversity.

In a compelling one-minute and 40-second clip, Larcombe, a British man, offers an enthusiastic glimpse into the vibrant multicultural life he has encountered since relocating to Sarawak, East Malaysia.

In one of his videos, which has garnered 31,000 views, Larcombe walks through the bustling streets of Malaysia, marvelling at the harmonious blend of cultures that define Malaysia, showcases an array of architectural styles - from majestic mosques and Christian churches to intricately decorated temples alongside demonstrating the country’s rich tapestry of traditions.

“Honestly, I have never been as happy as I am right now to be living in a fully multicultural society. It fills me with so much joy.

“Even in this town where I am right now, I can just walk down the street and see beautiful mosques, Christian churches, and temples of all different kinds, just within a stone’s throw,” Larcombe exclaims in the video.

His genuine admiration is evident as he points out how different religions and cultures coexist and celebrate together in peace and harmony.

Larcombe’s video also highlights Malaysia’s culinary diversity, with scenes of vibrant street markets offering local delicacies ranging from laksa, pulut panggang (baked sticky rice), dumplings, noodles, roti canai with curry and cendol as well.

“With this amazing multiculturalism, you get amazing food and what an awesome blend of food it is,” he said.

The video further explores how Malaysia’s various cultural and religious festivals are celebrated as public holidays, uniting people from different backgrounds. 

Larcombe also captures the spirit of local festivals, where people of all ethnicities join in the celebrations, showcasing a sense of unity through shared joy.

“And while every single culture is celebrated individually, be it Malay or Chinese or Indian or Iban or Bidayuh or any other of the myriad of cultures that are here in this country, there is still a unifying sense of one culture that brings everybody together.

“This is a country where people spend time together, regardless of their race or their religion, where people from different cultures and different religions celebrate together, where they enjoy spending time together,” Larcombe said, concluding with a message about the lessons the world can learn from Malaysia’s example of inclusivity and respect for diversity.

As the government is gearing toward the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM 2026)  programme, Larcombe's view on Malaysia's vibrant multicultural will definitely lure more tourists to the country.

Tourism Malaysia has also started to work on the goal of attracting 35.6 million international tourists for the upcoming VM2026.

Among the strategies is to ensure sufficient flights from visitor-friendly countries such as China with discussion with several airlines currently ongoing to establish direct flights connecting smaller provinces or 'second-tier cities' in China and Malaysia.

At the recent Dewan Rakyat sitting, Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said through the ministry’s strategies and efforts, Malaysia has recorded 7.56 million foreign tourist arrivals from January to April this year, compared to 5.93 million in the same period last year.  

For the record, the country received 20.1 million tourist arrivals that generated an income of RM71.3 billion in 2023, surpassing the target of 16.1 million arrivals, and this year, Malaysia aims to welcome 27.3 million tourists with an income of RM102.7 billion.

On June 15, the media reported that Malaysia had climbed nine places in the Global Peace Index 2024 to rank 10th among the most peaceful countries in the world.

-- BERNAMA