Having spent more than two decades in the comedy world, Malaysian stand-up comedian Douglas Lim continues to hone his craft and find fresh humour reflecting the country he grew up in.

His new comedy special, Made In Malaysia, feels like the result of all those years of insights and experiences grounded in local, everyday life. The show – now available on YouTube – was recorded at Lim’s sold-out performance at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas last year.

The show marked a personal milestone for Lim – the 48-year-old became the first stand-up comedian to perform a solo show at DFP.

“When I performed the show at DFP last year, I was overwhelmed because I never thought I’d be able to perform (at such a prestigious venue),” he shared during a group interview at the gala screening of Made In Malaysia on Dec 13.

“I had a lot of fun performing but when I edited the performance, I realised I could have been a bit more professional and tighter on some jokes. There’s room for improvement,” he added.

Douglas Lim was the first stand-up comedian to perform solo at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Handout

That self-critique has long been part of Lim’s approach to comedy, as he is known for humour that straddles the line between lighthearted and critical.

Still, he believes the show will be a fun and warm introduction for those who may be watching him for the first time.

Hailed as the “King of Malaysian Comedy”, Lim has built a career on material that resonates deeply with the local audience.

“My brand of humour has always been uniquely Malaysian, and often something only Malaysians can appreciate,” he noted.

“Now, I want to bring this experience to an international audience so they can be entertained and appreciate comedy through the lens of someone like me, a comedian who is proudly made in Malaysia.”

Lim described the comedy special as “a collection of stories about our lives, our issues and shared struggles”.

But he believes the humour can travel and resonate with international audience.  

“There is a bigger audience out there and they would appreciate our comedy as well because they can laugh at what we laugh at,” he added.

“We are more similar than we are different from each other.”

As the local stand-up scene continues to grow and more Malaysian comedians gain prominence internationally, Lim hopes there is room for more creative expression, even when the jokes can provoke discomfort.

“The comedy scene here is booming. Many of our local comedians are breaking boundaries and going international,” he said proudly, before the smile slid off.

“Of course, there are drawbacks. I just hope the current administration understands there’s not much harm we can do as comedians."

For now, Made In Malaysia serves as a snapshot of Lim’s journey.

From gaining recognition as Steven the stylist in the beloved sitcom Kopitiam to later starring in local films and television shows such as Polis Evo 3 and Spanar Jaya X, comedy has always remained Lim's passion.

Douglas Lim hopes there is room for more creative expression, even when the jokes can provoke discomfort. Photo: Handout

“We all need a good laugh sometimes, and it is a privilege for me to still bring something new to the table after so many years,” he said.

Asked to name his favourite thing made in Malaysia, Lim said without hesitation: durian.

“It’s definitely the musang king," he said.

“I’ve tried musang king from other countries but nothing comes close. There’s just something about Raub, Pahang that grows durians better than anywhere else – and I’m proud of that.”

Made In Malaysia is available on Douglas Lim's YouTube channel.