As we hopefully prepare to turn over a new leaf, we should never forget the roots of what sprouted from our national conversation and branched out into all areas, seeding the situation that would ultimately make us all green in the face … we’re sorry, were those too many puns?
Our Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak mentioned the falling market price of kangkung (or water spinach, for those of you who aren’t up on their Kamus Dewan skillz) and how the Malaysian people never seem to credit the government when prices fall, only complaining when they rise. Of course someone shot a grainy video of it and posted it to YouTube (the good bits start at 00:46):
On Monday, all hell broke loose as netizens became indignant over what they perceived to be government insensitivity towards Malaysians trying to get through increasingly tough economic conditions. And nothing says “indignant” like taking it to social media and making fun of something to death:
The whole kangkung price deflation is an insult. Kangkung is already the cheapest one out there.
— Sarawakian | Lyanna (@sarawak_twt) January 13, 2014
thanks to BN gov, i eat kangkung tonight. which BN minister wanna join me? I’ve some to spare pic.twitter.com/4VituHaXEL
— ChowPong (@ChowPong) January 13, 2014
@DHEEPANOREO RT @kangkung420: why smoke weed when u can smoke kangkung
— hing (@hingzhe) January 13, 2014
The government has established a new project called “Project Usahawan Kangkung 1 Malaysia” (PUK1MA). Please take note #diedlaughing
— Revolution‼️ (@Bhavan29) January 13, 2014
kangkung – new word to replace ‘cheap’ friend A: yeah i got these for 15 ringgit… friend B: omg damn kangkung weh!
— Ji Zen (@jizennn) January 13, 2014
We’re at tesco now and my eldest sis ask me to take her pic w kangkung and it’s price HAHAHAHA I’M CRYING pic.twitter.com/inQJeKOtqc
— Lana McCartney (@khairinaezetty) January 14, 2014
Then the celebrities started sounding off on the trend:
“Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Kangkung.” “Najib, is that you?”
— Zizan Razak (@RajaLawakZizan) January 13, 2014
I used to plant it at school for Kemahiran Hidup. RT @malaysianbear: @altimet What’s the whole kangkung deal about bro?
— Altimet (@altimet) January 13, 2014
This kangkung obsession is fast becoming a laughing stalk. Lettuce get to the root of the problem. We have mushroom for improvement.
— Kuah Jenhan (@kuahjenhan) January 13, 2014
Of course, quite a few people wanted to hijack the #kangkung tidal wave and divert people’s attention to issues they thought were more important:
Enter kangkung, and poof, no one speaks about them Bibles anymore.
— yindia™ (@kavilan) January 15, 2014
Forget kangkung. I say #Malaysia needs a quality-focused, balanced foreign and security policy: http://t.co/yxzdnhpafj
— Elina Noor 以丽娜 (@elinanoor) January 14, 2014
Anytime now Syed Al Bukhari will buy all the #Kangkung and monopolise this commodity. He is after all raja monopoli
— Effi Obefiend (@1Obefiend) January 14, 2014
Oh Dato @mpkotabelud; let us enjoy our #kangkung jokes in peace. @ least it’s free. E’thing else is pricey enough as is
— Nurul Izzah (@n_izzah) January 13, 2014
Here are some nutritional facts on #kangkung.1-They are rich in dietary fiber,protein,calcium,iron,vitamin A and C.Good for skin n eyes.
— Kamal Amzan (@DrKamalAmzan) January 13, 2014
But then, those people didn’t have dedicated meme generators on their side. And so it went:
Kangkung price going down? New menu at MCD! pic.twitter.com/E1BdeUCqA3
— melvin (@melvinthesinghh) January 13, 2014
10 things you can do with cheap kangkung. pic.twitter.com/qKvSzPQfTu
— Kevin Hoh (@Kevin_H2O) January 14, 2014
It spilled over into Facebook, of course:
And of course someone had the brilliant idea of setting up a Facebook Page for kangkung:
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And finally, this happened. Because of course it did:
Good morning Malaysia. We’ve made it into BBC trending news for Kangkung. Another feather in the cap for PM Najib http://t.co/0Nv3NQWYZn
— Biz News Malaysia (@biznewsMY) January 15, 2014
#BBCtrending on #Malaysia‘s “spinach-gate” http://t.co/j4qkjwBB73 #kangkung pic.twitter.com/uIgLxqoIOn
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 15, 2014
Yeah. The BBC covered #kangkung-gate, probably scratching their heads as they were typing up their report. Look, we don’t say anything about Prince Harry running around drunk and naked, you don’t say anything about our Prime Minister and his fondness for healthy food, okay? Is there a voice of reason out there, calling for calm and decorum? Sure there was:
Many blame the PM for shaming Malaysia with his #kangkung statement. Funny. Seems like M’sians are shaming themselves for prolonging it!
— DRIZ (@izyanizulkifli) January 13, 2014
But how can you afford the 3 seconds to read and retweet that when you have to deal with the apotheosis of the Malaysian political gaffememe ecosystem, the autotune smashcut:
Okay, we’re done. Someone please shoot this meme down before it hurts itself.
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