Laksa, one of Malaysia’s favourite dishes with roots in Peranakan Chinese cuisine, has grown popular across generations. The iconic bowl of thick noodles is loved not only in Malaysia but also in neighbouring Singapore and Indonesia, uniting people despite different ethnicities and backgrounds. However, social media influencer, Syed Muhammad Shah Hasif, also known as Prince Syed, recently faced an unexpected and harsh backlash after promoting his Laksa Langkawi on TikTok.
In a now-deleted video, Syed showcased his product with pride, aiming to share his unique take on the dish with a broader audience. However, the video quickly attracted criticism from some Langkawi locals who expressed disappointment with the quality of his laksa, sparking a wave of negativity that led Syed to delete the post. Feeling deeply affected by the critical responses, Syed took further action by filing a police report on 3rd November 2024, citing the mental toll the backlash had taken on him.
In a follow-up video, he explained the severity of the situation, revealing that online criticism was only one aspect of the challenges he faced. Disturbingly, some local suppliers went so far as to confront him in person at his home, pressuring both Syed and his family to switch to their products. This aggressive behaviour reportedly made his family feel unsafe and uncomfortable in their own residence. Additionally, while selling his laksa at the Ramadan Bazaar Site in Pekan Kuah Langkawi, he was approached by a supplier who interrupted his work to criticise his pricing strategy and suggested he switch to a different supplier.
Responding to these comments, the seller clarified his stance and sought to address the misunderstandings. He reassured his audience that he had no intentions of offending Langkawi residents or the local culture, emphasising that he was simply passionate about sharing his love for laksa. He also defended his choice of supplier, expressing satisfaction with their quality and reliability, and stated that he wouldn’t change suppliers due to external pressure. He went on to apologise for any inconvenience his presence may have caused and assured everyone that his only aim was to operate his small business respectfully and peacefully.
This ongoing pressure also stirred a larger conversation on social media about the ethics of such confrontations. Many viewers and followers took to the comments section to express their sympathy, with words of encouragement and support. Some followers even voiced concerns about the safety of his residential area, suggesting the people there were not as welcoming. Others expressed frustration and sadness about the situation, with some even declaring that they would reconsider visiting Langkawi due to the unfriendly treatment Prince Syed had received.
Source: TikTok (@prince.syed.shahid)In the closing moments of his video, he also mentioned that he would consider relocating his business outside of Langkawi if his presence truly made the residents uncomfortable. We hope that Syed and his family find a peaceful resolution to this unfortunate issue, and we encourage netizens to approach such situations with understanding and kindness.
You can watch the viral video here:
@prince.syed.shahid Kami minta maaf dan ampun kepada selurih WARGA LANGKAWI , mungkin kehadiran kami disini …………….. minta maaf sangat ya semua , 🙏🏻 kepada semua yang posting video dan sebut nama kami yang tidak tahu cerita apa2 , kami berbesar hati sebenarnya jika mahu berjumpa untuk tahu apa yang jadi , tu sahaja apa pon kami sayang semua warga LANGKAWI , saya harap perkara ini kita hentikan dan kita tutuo cerita , kami akan keluar dari sini jangan risau 🙏🏻 terima kasih kerana memberi kami tumpang niaga di Langkawi ❤️
♬ original sound – Prince Syed Fatin Jaeden Haifa – Prince Syed Fatin Jaeden Haifa
Source: TikTok
Sakinah contributed to this article.
