Many Malaysians grew up understanding different cultures and religions because of our multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious background. Recently, local influencer Wee Chuan Chin, better known as Abe Wee, schooled a tourist about a religion he doesn’t practice, earning him praise from netizens.
Abe Wee recently reacted to a TikTok video of a foreign tourist visiting Malaysia, complaining about the loud azan (prayer calls) they heard in the early morning. The tourist mistakenly thought it was someone singing and began mocking the call. In response to the tourist, Abe Wee explained about the azan, saying it’s a respected tradition in Malaysia. He then continued, saying that tourists visiting foreign countries should respect local cultures and religions.
For those unfamiliar with the Chinese influencer, Abe Wee and his sister Mekyun are both popular figures in the Malay community. The two have received praise for their fluency in Malay and knowledge of Malay culture. The video has since gone viral, garnering over four million views and over five thousand comments. Many of the comments were from Muslim Malaysians, who thanked the influencer for schooling the foreigner about the azan.
Some non-Muslims praised the sound of azan, saying it can calm them and help indicate time. Many said they also understand the importance of the prayer call despite not practising the religion. The influencer later shared a follow-up video, highlighting the comments he received from netizens showing respect towards the azan. He also applauded the non-Muslims’ kind reaction towards the Muslim prayer call, saying it reflects Malaysians’ unity as a nation.
Kudos to Abe Wee for his clear explanation about the azan, despite not being part of the religion, and for highlighting the beauty of Malaysia’s diversity. We hope his video will spread to other foreigners, helping them learn more about the local cultures and religions.
Watch Abe Wee’s videos below:
@weechuanchin Azan sebahagian budaya negara kita yang berbilang agama. Pelancong yang datang sini, sila belajar hormat tradisi orang lain 🕌🇲🇾
@weechuanchin Bukan abe wee je tapi ramai lagi non muslim yang faham dan respect azan. Bukti kita hidup harmoni walaupun berbilang kaum dan bangsa 🇲🇾❤️
