There’s no such thing as a perfect country. Each country has something that makes them great. Malaysia is not a perfect country but we do have a lot to be proud of. There’s been a lot of achievements that you may not know about.
Previously, we wrote about 11 world records held by Malaysia that you may or may have not heard of. It’s simply mind-blowing how our people can manage to achieve them. Today, we’re sharing with you all the things our country ranks or has ranked as No.1 in the world.
1. No.1 Best Healthcare
Are you surprised? So are we. According to International Living, Malaysia ranked as No.1 out of 25 countries in the world for best healthcare services and infrastructure in 2019. The Joint Commission International (JCI) once mentioned that, “There are both private and public hospitals for expatriates to choose from. The prescriptions in Malaysia cost a fraction of what you pay at home. But it’s not just the cost that is attractive – it’s the service..”
It is also worth noting that our medical experts, majority of whom were trained in the US, the UK and Australia, are fluent in English, thus making communication with all patients more seamless.
2. No.1 Men’s Dodgeball World Champions
According to the World Dodgeball Federation, Malaysia takes the no.1 spot out of 13 countries for the men’s category. If you look through their official website, we still hold that ranking since 2019. Our women’s category is doing just as great ranking no. 2 in the world out of 9 countries.
3. No.1 Producer of Condoms
Surprise, surprise! Let’s try not to think about what this could entail for our country and focus more on the milestone itself. Started in 1988, Karex Berhad became the world’s largest condom maker producing over 5 billion condoms a year (that’s one in every five condoms globally)! If you think Durex is their biggest competitor, think again cause apparently Karex also provides supplies for Durex. The more you know.
4. No.1 Tower Runner
Last year, we introduced you to the world’s no.1 Tower Runner from Malaysia. Soh Wai Ching was named the fastest Malaysian participant at the “KL Tower International Towerthon Challenge” and became Asia’s top tower runner after 50 worldwide races.
The 27-year-old won first place in the “Tunnel to Towers Climb NYC” competition after successfully running up the One World Trade Center in New York (2226 Steps, 104 Floors) in less than 13 minutes.
5. No.1 Islamic Fintech
We’re not entirely sure what this means but we’re adding this to our list simply because Malaysia is No.1. Based on the Global Islamic Fintech Report 2021 by Salaam Gateway, Malaysia led the rankings on the Global Islamic Fintech (GIFT) Index. As per the report, Malaysia is listed as the most conducive country out of all countries that promote the growth of Islamic fintech.
6. No.1 Largest Cave Chamber Size
Caves can be scary especially at night time cause you’ll never know what could be crawling on the ground or on the walls. However, caves aren’t all that bad cause one of our caves is apparently the largest in the world. We ranked no.1 in this category.
Located in Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, the Sarawak Chamber is 600m x 415m x 80m high. If you can’t do math (like us) then imagine this: a 40 Boeing 747’s wingtip to wingtip can fit into this cave chamber. That’s how big it is.
7. No.1 Longest Duration As The No.1 Badminton Player
Can you guess who it is? We know you know the answer. That’s right, Dato Lee Chong Wei still holds the record for the longest duration for being the No.1 Badminton player in the world. He is still the only player to rank No. 1 for more than 300 weeks. This is a hard record to beat so we wonder who will one day take this title?
8. No.1 Longest Water Slide
This one was quite recent and we even covered this previously. ESCAPE Penang set a new world record with the launch of the world’s longest Zip Coaster measuring 1,111 meters. With the introduction of Zip Coaster, thrill seekers can now enjoy the free-flying sensation of a zip line with ups, downs, and turns on a steel track that is attached to the tree line.
9. No.1 Tallest Tropical Tree
We love our tropical trees in the rainforest. Being closer to nature can bring pure bliss for many especially if you’re an adventurer. According to National Geographic, the tallest tree in the world is located in Danum Valley, Sabah. This yellow meranti tropical tree named Menara is 100.8 metres tall. In comparison, this tree is taller than the Statue of Liberty in the US.
10. No.1 Covered Bird Park
Who knew that the World’s largest Free Flight Aviary is right here in our backyard? The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is always a fun place to visit with friends and family during the holidays but did you know that it’s billed as the largest covered bird park in the world?
The KL Bird Park has more than 3,000 birds and 200 species from all over the globe so the concept of free-flight is perhaps the best way to ensure the survival of these birds.
11. No.1 Vape e-Liquid Maker
Everyone has their opinion on whether or not vaping is actually good for your health. While the debate continues, let us acknowledge the fact that Malaysia is now the largest vape e-liquid maker in the world. According to Focus Malaysia, the vape e-liquids manufacturing industry has the potential to generate income for the country’s economy.
“Malaysia has proven to be the world’s largest producer of vape e-liquids and the Government should take advantage of this,” said Rustam Affendi Ismadi Rahimi, director of COF Industry Sdn Bhd.
12. Largest Halal Fast Food Chain In The World
We’ve once shared the story of how our local fast-food chain Marrybrown became a household name. In short, the brand now has over 500 locations in Malaysia & has branched out to more than 15 countries making it the largest halal fast food chain in the world!
13. Steepest Funicular Tunnel In The World
Who knew we had this right in our own backyard? The Penang Hill funicular tunnel holds the record for being the steepest in the world at 27.9°! It’s also known as being one of the world’s oldest funicular railway systems. Constructed between 1906 and 1923, it has now become a popular tourist spot in Penang.
There are probably more things out there where Malaysia ranked as no.1 but guess we’ll have to feature them in another article. Which one of these categories were you most surprised that we take the No. 1 spot?
Sources: WorldDodgeballFederation, Instagram (1)(2), Karex, Twitter (1)(2), MalaysiaTravelPedia, FintechNews
