UK Traveller Worries Brushing Her Teeth with Penang Tap Water Isn’t Safe, Gets Ridiculed by M’sians

A British woman travelling in Malaysia recently drew the attention of netizens after posting a question to the ‘Travel Malaysia’ Facebook group.

In the now-deleted post, the woman revealed she was visiting Penang with a group and raised concerns regarding the safety of the state’s tap water.

For illustration purposes

To brush or not to brush?

While it is common for foreign travellers, particularly those from developed nations, to inquire whether Malaysia’s tap water is drinkable, this traveller went a step further by questioning whether the water was even safe for brushing her teeth.

She asked:

“Hi all! We are currently in Penang, and I’m just wondering if anyone knows if it’s safe to brush your teeth with the tap water? Thanks!”

“Does your country have internet?”

The British traveller’s inquiry then sparked a flurry of responses from Malaysians in the public group, many of whom met the question with ridicule.

One commenter sarcastically told her to be “extremely careful” with Penang’s tap water and suggested she use Perrier, the expensive French brand of natural sparkling mineral water, to brush her teeth, or they “may fall off.”

Meanwhile, another netizen assured her that while tap water in Malaysia is not drinkable, it’s safe to use for brushing teeth and other daily uses.

Besides that, one commenter who was perplexed by the woman’s inquiry asked her whether it was her first time travelling abroad. He went on to sarcastically question whether her home country has internet or an education system.

This is not the first time that foreign travellers have been paranoid about using the tap water in Penang. In 2024, a couple travelling in the state went viral for not showering for 3 days due to the “yellow water” at the hotel they were staying at. 

Also read: You Can Drink Tap Water in Selangor ‘Without Any Health Risks’ by 2028, The State Exco Claims