Cover image via @nomadspritz (Instagram)
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If you've ever tried explaining to a foreign friend that Malaysia isn't just a jungle and we don't live in trees, this viral clip might do the job for you
A video by Federico De Luca (@nomadspritz) has recently gone viral for turning the "developed vs developing" narrative on its head.
In a reel that's quickly picking up steam on Instagram, content creator @nomadspritz (who's been travelling around Southeast Asia for over two years) shares his surprise at how clean, safe, and well-run Malaysia feels, particularly George Town and Kuala Lumpur.
"If this is just a 'small unknown town' in Malaysia, I don't even know what to tell you," he says, standing in an area in Penang. "This is George Town. Penang. Malaysia."
He goes on to say that even Kuala Lumpur feels cleaner and safer than most cities he's visited. And that includes places in so-called "developed" countries.
He shared that Malaysia and Thailand feel more 'first world' than what many Westerners grew up with.
According to him, living in Southeast Asia has shifted his perspective. While public services in the West are declining, Malaysia feels balanced and functional:
"The infrastructure works. People seem happy. Life feels balanced," he said.
In contrast, he describes countries like the US and parts of Europe as crumbling under systems that put profit over people, from healthcare to housing
"Maybe we've had it backwards all along," he added.
But he's not bashing the West; he's just asking the big questions.
In a follow-up comment, he clarifies:
"This isn't about saying Asia is better than the West. I'm proud to be European and feel incredibly lucky to be Italian. I love where I come from."
What he is questioning is the deeper system that shapes how we view the world
"How much of the privilege we take for granted was built through systems created by the West itself? Systems that still shape how we decide which countries we label as safe, developed, or worthy.
"This isn't hate. It's awareness. It's about giving credit where it's due and acknowledging that many countries in Asia have built vibrant, beautiful, and deeply functional societies that deserve to be seen for what they truly are," he shared.
He reminds Westerners that privilege isn't just about wealth; it's also about freedom of movement
"These labels like 'developed,' 'developing,' and 'first world' are not harmless. They define who gets to move, who gets to dream, who gets access to a future beyond their borders.
"What feels like just a word to you is a wall to someone else," he explained.
In one of the most powerful parts of his comment, @nomadspritz gets real about the passport privilege many people never think about
"I hold one of the strongest passports on Earth. I can move freely almost anywhere. Most people can't. And if you still don't see how real that is, it's not because the world is fair. It's because you've never had to notice," he wrote.
