Table reservation culture clash: SG vs MY

One netizen helpfully explained why Singaporeans sometimes found their tissue packets missing.

“In Malaysia, food courts sometimes have free tissues on the table. You put yours there, people think it’s free to use,” the netizen said.

Another netizen, likely alluding to the perceived affluence of Singaporean visitors, suggested, tongue-in-cheek: “Yeah, please put a handphone (best latest model) or wallet or sling bag. It works better than tissue.”

There were also genuinely helpful comments. One suggested buying a drink and leaving it on the table to indicate it is reserved. Another said: “In Malaysia, if you eat alone in a kopitiam, you should usually take chopsticks and saucer with kicap (added) out and put on your table.

Malaysian netizens recount encounters with ‘choping’ culture

Some Malaysian netizens took the opportunity to recount their experiences with Singaporean visitors who were unaware that their tissue paper or personal items like umbrellas have little value when it comes to table reservations.

One netizen recounted an experience at a Petaling Jaya eatery where they used tissues to wipe down the table and chairs before sitting down. When the person who had placed the tissue paper returned, they apparently accused the netizen of being “blind” for not noticing it.

“We told him there was no such practice in Malaysia and we had used the tissues to clean the table and chairs. He and his friends walked away grumbling with some Hokkien ‘blessings’,” added the Facebook user.

Another netizen described a similar encounter, involving an umbrella instead of tissue paper.

“In Penang, we saw an umbrella left on a dining table in a food court. I chucked away the umbrella onto the floor and took the seats. After that, a couple came by — then only did I realise they ‘choped’ the seats. I told them this is not Singapore, don’t bring your rules over to Malaysia.”

Singaporeans agree that ‘choping’ culture shouldn’t be brought overseas

Several Singaporeans, critical of the practice, chimed in.

“Agree — as a Singaporean, I don’t encourage that as well,” said a netizen.

“This is one of the most ungracious habits of many Singaporeans,” another said.

A third added: “As a Singaporean, I really do feel bad about bringing over our habits. Being in the shoes of a Malaysian, I guess I would be pretty much annoyed and I think I would probably start using the tissue paper left on the table as well.”

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