Here Are 8 'Malaysia Mentioned' Moments That Got Us Excited Over The Past Year
There's just something exciting about hearing Malaysia being mentioned in media.
By Celine Low — 13 Sep 2024, 06:39 PM
1. Ryan Reynolds reposted a TikTok by GSC featuring audiences' reactions to Deadpool & Wolverine
"THAT moment. The feeling of sitting in a movie theater, having a collective experience like this is one of the best feelings on earth," the Deadpool actor tweeted on 2 August.
Malaysian netizens were super excited when they saw that Reynolds shared GSC's video, with many quoting the actor's tweet with "Malaysia mentioned" on X, formerly Twitter.
2. Queen Of Tears, a popular South Korean drama, namedrops Malaysia several times throughout the show
The drama follows the story of a third-generation chaebol (family-controlled conglomerate) heiress and her lawyer husband, who become entangled in a money-laundering scheme during their marital crisis.
Spoiler alert if you haven't seen the drama!
In Episode 11, several characters discover a slush fund in Labuan, Malaysia. The country was mentioned so many times in this episode that it became quite a hot topic among fans on social media.
3. Netflix's reality game show, The Mole, was filmed entirely in Malaysia
The competitive reality show follows 12 players who work together on a series of missions to win a prize pot. However, one of them is secretly a saboteur — aka the Mole — who's tasked with undermining the players' efforts and keeping the earnings as low as possible.
Filming locations featured in the show include the PETRONAS Twin Towers, Tioman Island, Port Klang, Sentul Depot, Tekek Beach, and Forest City Johor.
4. South Korean girl group NewJeans' latest single, How Sweet, was accused of sounding similar to Malaysian indie band Midnight Fusic's 2022 hit, Summer Love
Less than three hours after How Sweet was released, many netizens noticed striking similarities in rhythm, melody, and lyrics between the track and Summer Love, which was released in September 2022. This has led to speculation over whether it is a mere coincidence or something more concerning.
Despite the controversy, Malaysians still found a reason to celebrate, with many retweeting "Malaysia mentioned". A win is a win, I guess.
Listen to the song here:
5. Florence Pugh casually mentions "jumping off the second-tallest building in the world" as her favourite Thunderbolts stunt
Yep, the second-tallest building in the world is Merdeka 118. Standing at 678.9m and boasting 118 floors, Merdeka 118 ranks just below Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
After weeks of fan speculation, Pugh confirmed during an interview at San Diego Comic-Con that she recently visited Malaysia to film a stunt sequence for her upcoming Marvel film, Thunderbolts.
6. Five Korean celebrities went viral for overordering roti tisu while filming a variety show in Kuala Lumpur
Five of them, including Korean comedian Kim Jun-ho, had the surprise of their lives when they tried out Malaysian cuisine during an episode of the South Korean variety show, Nidonnaesan Dog Park Tour.
They visited TG's Bistro, a mamak restaurant in Bukit Bintang and ordered five servings of roti tisu, which towered over them.
The hilarious scene went viral on social media.
7. Speaking of Korean stars, actor Lee Seung-gi and five other celebrities were spotted filming in Sabah
Some fans were very excited when they saw South Korean singer and actor Lee Seung-gi, Kim Dong-jun, Amotti from Physical 100, Olympic gold medallist swimmer Park Tae-hwan, and Japanese mixed martial artist Choo Sung-hoon, among others — all hanging out together at a food court in Labuan.
Turns out, they were filming the upcoming reality TV show King of Survival, an outdoor survival game show featuring 12 contestants battling it out in the wild.
8. Popular Japanese anime Jujutsu Kaisen mentioned Malaysia and Kuantan in the same episode
In an episode that aired on 24 November 2023, beloved character Kento Nanami expressed his desire to visit Malaysia, specifically a beach in Kuantan, before his death.
As a result, "Kuantan" began trending on X, with over 6,500 posts referencing the tourist destination and the anime. A 'Kento Nanami Memorial Shrine' was even created as a location on Google Maps.
