LANGKAWI Island has always been known as some of Malaysia’s best island destinations.
Beautiful beaches such as Pantai Cenang bring in people from all walks of life while duty-free shopping allows visitors to purchase chocolates, perfumes, alcohol and household items at lower prices.
Then there are the nature and geoparks, including the UNESCO-listed Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark.
But recently, the good name of Langkawi has come under public scrutiny following a viral video post from a tourist.
According to him, Langkawi is a dead place and he makes a point of it too by showing in the video the dilapidated state of things.
Pelancong ni dakwa Pulau Langkawi sudah mati…. pic.twitter.com/fNjB30eYKA
— MYNEWSHUB (@mynewshub) June 21, 2026
Rows of shoplots were shuttered. A shopping mall appears more like a haunted mansion, abandoned and gathering dust.
He further highlighted the pipes protruding by the sidewalks, which he claimed were hazards that trip people. This is not to forget the gaping drains and holes.
The viral video has since turned into a hot spot for debate among Malaysians.
Netizen @Jefferey_0325 said in the comment section that this was because Langkawi was governed by PAS. He added that the island will turn into Penang if given over to DAP.
“Langkawi belongs to the Malays, not a place to be happy and for partying,” countered @silver6229.
“This is the result of PAS. That is why more are willing to go to Kafir countries like Thailand,” said @kuro_mifu.
Also, @yourstockybear believed people should boycott Langkawi, claiming that the island was only welcoming towards white people and Arabs.
Then there was @BapakDiaLaaa theorising that the era of online shopping has made physical shops irrelevant.
Sadly, some netizens decided to attack the tourist’s race and nationality. From the hat he was wearing, people quickly identified him as a jew and wondered how he managed to enter Malaysia.
Another video has also been posted to counter his claim of a dead Langkawi.
@alif.aiman22🚨RESPONSE VIDEO 🚨 Recently there was another attempt at discrediting Langkawi. The claims were: 1. A dead town 2. A dead shopping mall 3. Tripping hazards for the blind This is my response to all those claims with creative visuals 🤣 hope this helps clear the matter. Langkawi is a vibrant location ready to welcome the world to our little island 🏝️ What do you think?♬ original sound – Alif Aiman
“Why not put all the Rohingyas to Langkawi to make it more lively again? Good idea?” suggested @KlSooner.
Whether Langkawi is truly “dead” or merely undergoing a difficult period depends largely on who is asked.
What is clear, however, is that the viral video has exposed concerns that go beyond tourism numbers.
Questions about infrastructure maintenance, economic activity and the island’s long-term appeal deserve serious discussion. —June 22, 2026
Main image: @mynewshub (X)
