From Ipoh to Singapore: Ah Beng vs Liang Po Po and the economics of cross-border jobs

Explore the complexities of Malaysian workers commuting to Singapore for jobs, driven by economic factors and currency exchange rates. Read more at straitstimes.com.

IPOH, Perak – “A Singaporean comes to work here (Malaysia)? You think I’m stupid?” Malaysian security guard Ah Beng protests to Singaporean grandma Liang Po Po inside an interrogation room.

This comedic exchange is from Ah Beng Vs Liang Po Po, a Chinese New Year movie featuring the popular grandma character as a maid working for a wealthy Malaysian family.

The Chinese-language film boasts a mixed Singaporean and Malaysian cast, with Singapore’s Jack Neo in the role of Liang Po Po and Malaysian actor Jack Lim playing Ah Beng. It premiered on Feb 17, and topped the box office on both sides of the Causeway, grossing over RM8.1 million (S$2.63 million) in Malaysia and $1 million in Singapore as at Feb 26.

The amusing scene pokes fun at a comment by Malaysia’s Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who has made controversial remarks about Singapore-Malaysia ties.

For example, he had said, while on the campaign trail for the Democratic Action Party in October 2022, that Singaporeans should work in Malaysia as labourers instead of the other way around.

Malaysians working in Singapore, he added, should not have to endure exhausting daily commutes, some of which have led to deaths. In the most recent accident, a Malaysian bus driver working in Singapore died in the wee hours of Jan 13 after losing control of his motorcycle while heading home from work.