Chinese tourist says never returning to Malaysia due to language barriers

In her post on China's social media app Xiaohongshu on Oct. 23, she shared her "unexpected" experiences with public transportation at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

She recounted paying RM55 (US$13) for what she thought was an affordable metro service. However, it turned out to be a high-speed express train traveling non-stop from Kuala Lumpur Sentral, the city’s main railway station, to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the airport, Must Share News reported.

"I barely understand English, and I struggled with the locals' accents. I mistakenly thought it was a cheaper option, but it was actually the RM55 express line," she wrote.

After realizing her error, she attempted to request a refund but claimed the airport staff were unable to assist her due to the language barriers.

The tourist also expressed frustration with the lack of Chinese signage at the airport, which, she said, made it difficult to navigate and use available services.

She even reported the incident to the police, only to be told that it was not an issue they could address.

Her post quickly went viral on social media, sparking mixed reactions from Malaysian netizens, The Rakyat Post reported.

Some people criticized her for filing a police report, with one noting, "Filing a police report over this? Didn’t you say you don’t understand the language? Do some research before traveling. RM55 may be a bit pricey, but it’s not reason enough to call the police."

Another remarked, "If you’re worried about language barriers, joining a tour group would be a better idea. You can’t expect everyone to speak Mandarin, especially since Mandarin isn’t the primary language in Malaysia."

Malaysia has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists recently, partly due to a visa-free policy.

In the first eight months of this year, Malaysia welcomed 2.2 million Chinese tourists, a 160% increase from the same period last year.

Malaysia introduced a 30-day visa waiver for Chinese citizens last December, and this policy has been extended through 2026.