British travel vlogger labels Malaysia's Semporna as 'Asia's dirtiest town'

A one-minute video titled "Asia's Dirtiest Town!" shows Backpacker Ben walking past a jetty covered in trash, The Star reported.

"If only you could smell what I'm smelling. It's exactly how you'd imagine," he says before adding, "Oh man, what a place. Top five dirtiest places I've ever been."

He continues, "You know what’s funny? My partner Cat and I have been walking around with this empty bottle for about an hour now because we can’t bring ourselves to litter. But really, is there any point? Just leave it on the floor like everyone else?"

The September clip quickly went viral, drawing widespread reactions online, with many viewers agreeing that the vlogger’s criticism was fair.

A netizen commented: "I am a Malaysian and had the opportunity to do my teaching practical there in 2009. Believe me, even though I hate to admit it, I agree — Semporna is the dirtiest district in Malaysia and maybe in Asia."

Another wrote: "It was clean there before, since visitors came everything has changed."

Semporna, a coastal district in Sabah, serves as the gateway to popular islands like Sipadan and Mabul, drawing thousands of tourists annually.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming urged Semporna Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to ensure Semporna does not become the dirtiest town in Asia, Malay Mail reported.

"Next year is Visit Malaysia 2026, so with all due respect, I would like to ask the Semporna MP to be diligent in going down to the field. It is understood that he has been there for over 30 years, and it is his responsibility to monitor the town’s cleanliness," he said last week when asked about the cleanliness issue in Semporna.