Abroad
M'sian influencer slammed for comparing KLIA attraction to Jewel Changi, says she never implied M'sia was inferior
The post went viral after a netizen took parts of her video and edited it to imply that she had criticised the attraction.
June 21, 2026, 03:05 PM
Top photo from Ivor_xianz/Instagram
A Malaysian influencer was slammed online after she reportedly compared the Rimba Jungle Boardwalk at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KLIA 1) to Jewel Changi Airport.
One of KLIA's newest attractions, Rimba, officially opened in January 2026 and is located within the transit area of KLIA 1.
On Jun. 17, Ivor Lim, an influencer and co-founder of Malaysian personal care brand Hygr, shared an Instagram Reel of herself exploring the nature-inspired space at the airport.
In the post caption, she said: "Malaysian version of Jewel Changi in KLIA 1, catch your last breath of Malaysian tropical air before your departure, even tho some birds are fake".
In the video, she walked through the attraction, showing its features, including replicas of Rafflesia flowers and a hornbill, and a waterfall sculpture.
She ended the video saying the attraction is "good for tourists" to experience the Malaysian tropical forest.
Screenshot from Ivor's Instagram page.
Malaysia's netizens claimed she put down Rimba
The post went viral after a netizen took parts of Lim's video and edited it, claiming that Lim criticised KLIA 1's Rimba.
The netizen also alleged that Lim said Malaysia was lagging behind and claimed she said Rimba was copying Jewel Changi Airport.
The now-deleted video, which was reposted on Threads, also called for a boycott of Lim's beauty brand HYGR.
However, some have also come to Lim's defence, opining that the video was "real and positive".
Lim never implied Malaysia was "inferior"
In a statement to Threads on Jun. 18, Lim clarified: "At no point did I state the words mentioned by the author of the post".
"I also never said or implied that Malaysia is bad, inferior, or incapable of creating world-class experiences."
Lim explained: "The video currently being circulated was selectively edited, with key parts of the conversation removed, resulting in a misleading narrative that does not accurately represent my views".
"I apologise if this video has given any wrong impression that I never intended."
She added that the edited video created the false impression that she "was criticising Malaysia or Rimba, which is simply not true".
She said: "My intention was to discuss customer experience and areas for improvement from a constructive perspective, not to put down Malaysia or any Malaysian business".
Lim asked netizens to refer to the full, unedited video she posted before drawing conclusions.
Lim added that she was seeking legal advice and would take all necessary steps to protect her and her brand's reputation.
View on Threads
