I quit the UK for Malaysia as life here is so dangerous & depressing – there's lots to do after school & it's dirt cheap

The Sun

08-07-2025

Read on to see why the family won't come back to the UK
EXPAT ESCAPE I quit the UK for Malaysia as life here is so dangerous & depressing – there's lots to do after school & it's dirt cheap
A family of four have revealed why they ditched their life in the UK for sunny Malaysia.
The family who goes by The Unconventional Fam on social media moved over a year ago and haven't looked back.
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The family-of-four left the UK for sunny Malaysia
Credit: tiktok/@theunconventionalfam
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They revealed that life in Kuala Lumpur was mutch better than in England
Credit: Getty
In one clip, the mum and dad shared why they decided to leave the UK for Asia in the first place.
The dad said: "We've seen kids 11 to 12 years old getting hold of class A drugs. Also the knife crime, it's just on the rise.
"It does scare us, it scares us for our kids, but there's also the behaviour and respect level.
"You don't see a lot of respect for authority in the UK from kids, whether it's for teachers or for the police or even for other adults."
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The mum also said the healthcare system was a concern for them, as it was becoming impossible to visit a GP or be seen by a professional quickly.
They also said the weather in the UK was a big reason for moving, adding: "It's cold, it's miserable, it's wet.
"You get back from work and you just have to stay inside. It's just quite depressing."
The pair also said the cost of living in the UK was just getting too expensive.
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Not only were daily essentials pricey, but it also meant the family couldn't afford to go out and enjoy themselves.
Last but not least, the pair said they hated the pressures of Western standards of beauty being put on to their two daughters.
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The pair quit the UK as they were sick of rising living costs and crime
Credit: tiktok/@theunconventionalfam
I ditched my retail job in the UK for island paradise…rent is just £225, dinner costs £2 & our poolside office has a spa
"16 to 20-year-old girls going out on a night out and they're wearing basically underwear. These tops that are just a bra," said the dad.
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"I don't want to see my kids growing up feeling like that's the way that they should be treating themselves."
A year on since ditching the UK, the family couldn't be happier and they shared one of their favourite parts of Malaysia.
The mum said one of her favourite parts of Malaysia was the shopping malls.
Not only was it much cheaper than in the UK, she said they were also open later.
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"I cannot express to you how much that makes a difference to life. In the UK, everything closes at 5pm, you finish work, the kids finish school, and you might as well go home and put your pyjamas on and sit in front of the TV because there is honestly nothing to do," she explained.
"There are obviously cinemas and restaurants to go to, but they cost an absolute fortune, and you can't do it all the time."
But in Malaysia, she said you were able to go out and enjoy the evening without going bankrupt.
The clips have gone viral on her TikTok account @theunconventionalfam and plenty of people agreed that Malaysia had lots to offer in the comments.
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Public Reaction
One person wrote: "I was in London during winter. Getting dark so early in the day and with the cold weather was so depressing. Sorry how can that be enjoyable. Sunny warm weather anytime beats this."
Another commented: "I'm Malaysian and now live in the UK. I feel you; I went to Costa at 4:55 PM and was told they were closing."
"What a boring life in the UK," penned a third.
Meanwhile, a fourth said: "Honestly, same. I moved to the UK and I miss Malaysia every day!! I am so much happier in Malaysia."
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"You get to live more over here,' claimed a fifth
Someone else added: "Yes, I used to study in the UK, they literally don't have a nightlife."