In this article, a M’sian digital nomad with over 10 years of remote work experience shares the top 5 digital nomad jobs that Malaysians can make a career out of.
So you’ve seen the hype on social media but never thought that it might be for you. It’s true, working from a beach in Bali sounds very much like a scam, or only possible if you have a specific sort of job in a tech startup — or happen to be a successful influencer (cue: #hustle).
But quitting your 9-to-5 and becoming a digital nomad isn’t an impossible aspiration. In fact, a growing number of Malaysians are already doing it… or something similar.
Don’t believe me? I’m living proof that this is possible — I’ve been working remotely for well over a decade, seven of those years from Bangkok as a base.
That’s me—wearing the ticketing lady’s scarf as a modesty cover—at the Wat Ratchaburana temple in Ayutthaya. Photo: Irene Chan.
Why Bangkok? While not the cheapest city to live in here in Southeast Asia, there are just so many international flights directly to all the places I’ve ever wanted to explore — now I have the flexibility to take my work with me, instead of having to apply for leave.
Since moving to Bangkok, I’ve worked in various locations around Thailand (Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta, Phuket), and out of Thailand, with a handful of favourite cities to work from: Valencia (Spain), Jakarta (Indonesia), Budapest (Hungary), and Kyoto (Japan).
As long as you own a decent laptop and have access to stable Wi-Fi, there are ways to make a living without ever commuting — or even setting foot into an office lift again.
So, what kind of jobs are we talking about? Here are five digital nomad gigs that actually exist— and they’re pretty doable, especially if you’re Malaysian.
1. Content Writer
If you’ve ever ranted on X (formerly Twitter), blogged about your failed Tinder date, come up with captivating IG stories for your travels… Or enjoy crafting killer captions for photos of your favourite Village Park nasi lemak—well, you’re already halfway there.
Content writing covers everything from writing product descriptions for e-commerce stores to creating blog posts for startups in Germany. Malaysians, especially those fluent in both English and Bahasa Malaysia (or Mandarin/Tamil), are in high demand for regional content.
You don’t even need a degree, as long as you’re able to create the sort of copy your client demands.
Bonus points if you’ve got SEO chops or can write well in a tone that isn’t giving “ChatGPT on autopilot”.
On the topic of ChatGPT, the ability to wield AI proficiently is also an increasingly sought-after skill set in content writing.
Tools of the trade: Grammarly, SurferSEO, Notion, Google Docs, ClaudeAI
Pro-tip: Build a small portfolio with Medium or Substack and pitch on sites like Upwork or Cult of Copy Job Board.
2. Virtual Assistant
The “assistant” bit of this job title can be deceiving, because your role is anything but merely a menial minion. VAs today run the show behind small businesses, influencers, and even therapists — or tattoo artists! — who don’t want to schedule their own Zoom calls or client appointments.
You could be managing social media DMs, coming up with social media marketing strategies, fixing up spreadsheets, booking travel, or just making someone’s chaotic inbox look sane.
This job is especially ideal for those who are detail-oriented, or enjoy problem-solving on the fly— especially if you’ve got customer service experience or were once an event organiser with the skills to get things done with military-level precision.
Platforms to check out: Onlinejobs.ph (yes, Malaysians can use it too), Belay, or even local Facebook groups (search for “Virtual Assistant Malaysia”)
Fun fact: Some VAs make more than junior executives in KL. No cap.
3. UX/UI Tester
You’ve probably encountered apps that made you want to hurl your phone across the room in aggravation. UX testers get paid to prevent that.
Being a UX/UI tester is a great entry point for tech-curious folks who don’t want to learn coding (yet). You test websites, apps, or prototypes and give feedback—what’s confusing, what’s buggy, and what doesn’t work.
This job means you’re literally getting paid to complain constructively.
Platforms to check out: UserTesting, TryMyUI, Maze, or PlaybookUX
Local edge: Malaysian testers can provide region-specific feedback—for example, apps with the option to switch between English and Bahasa Malaysia
4. Online Language Tutor
Think tutoring is just for English? It might come as a surprise, but there’s currently a demand for other languages — including Bahasa Malaysia!
There’s a growing interest in learning BM, especially among expats, exchange students, and regional professionals working with Malaysian clients. If you happen to have good communication skills, are patient and don’t mind explaining why “lah” isn’t all that translatable to English, this could be your lane.
English tutors are still sought after, especially with Japanese, South Korean, Chinese and Thai students who want casual conversation practice with Southeast Asian speakers.
Suppose you are proficient in languages other than English. In the current global climate, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean are useful languages to acquire for professionals looking for an edge in applying for jobs in multi-national companies, or are preparing to work abroad.
Picked up conversational Korean years ago due to your undying love for K-dramas, but presently lack opportunities to use it? Well, this might be an excellent opportunity to monetise your linguistic skills while keeping your fluency in the language relevant.
Platforms to check out: italki, Preply, AmazingTalker
Pro-tip: Casual, friendly “conversational” tutors are just as needed as formal grammar professionals.
5. Video Captioning & Subtitling
Here’s a job most people overlook—subtitling and captioning. With the proliferation of online streaming content, YouTube channels, and TikTok mini-documentaries, there is always a need for folks who can subtitle accurately and sensitively, especially in multiple languages.
Translation is an art, more than just word-for-word translations, which require creativity, cultural understanding, and the ability to convey the nuances and intent of the original dialogue into a different language.
If you’re bilingual (or multilingual!) and have strong listening skills, plus a solid grasp of cultural nuance, this might just be the gig for you.
You don’t need fancy editing skills, just precision, patience, and ideally, a good pair of headphones.
Platforms to check out: Rev, CaptionHub, or agencies like Iyuno-SDI
Pro-tip: Add subtitle timing and SRT formatting to your CV
Final thoughts: Can Malaysians really do this?
Yes! You don’t need a visa, a trust fund, or a fancy MacBook (although already owning a MacBook will probably add to your aura of “successful online professional”).
What you do need is a stable internet connection, some hustle (yes, I used the h-word), and a little bit of courage to step away from the traditional job path.
Plenty of Malaysians are already doing this— I’ve not looked back since I decided this was the career format that would work best for me. The best part of this is: YOU get to structure your digital nomad lifestyle according to your needs and preferences.
If you just want to dip a toe into the remote work experience, doing it part-time is perfectly fine — some people want some extra side income; others are going full-time.
If you’re not 100% sure this is what you want, doing it as a side gig might be a good idea.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to how you want to structure your digital nomad lifestyle.
For example, a friend of mine manages his own digital advertising company out of Kuching, with the option of spending a month here and there in Jakarta, where his wife hails from.
So if you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I could…”, well, maybe you should.
You never know if you don’t try. Who knows — signing up on a remote worker’s platform could be the first step toward working from a beach in Koh Lanta. Or in the hip Sinsa neighbourhood in Seoul. Or just your mum’s house in Old Klang Road, albeit with better food than your office meals. All are valid ways to be a digital nomad!
Have a story to tell?
Share your story on our Facebook page and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
I Made Sure My Ex-husband Lost Everything After He Cheated On Me With A 21 Year Old Influencer
More from Real Jobs
“Senang kan kerja ni?” M’sian Law Student Finds Out How Tough Service Jobs Really Are
This is a story about how an 18-year-old law student with a superiority complex received a crash course in humility, …
