Malaysia is a melting pot of different cultures, religions, and beliefs. This multi-cultural environment is heavily influenced by the colorful mix of races that make up the Malaysian population, which include Malays, Indians, and Chinese. The culture of Malaysia is made even more interesting with the influences of the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Thai, as seen in the uniqueness of how the people in this country go about their social customs and practices.
It will be beneficial for you to know a little bit of Malaysia’s customs and etiquette before your actual trip to this Southeast Asian country, so any social booboos can be avoided (or at the very least, minimized). Knowing more about what to do in social situations, and how to do them in Malaysia, can also help you in preparing for your social interactions with the gracious Malaysians you will meet as you explore their beautiful country.
Social Introductions
Handshakes are commonly used as part of the introductions in Malaysia, although in some instances the handshake may only be exchanged with members of the same gender. A Malaysian male may shake the hand of a man introduced to him, but may refrain from doing the same with a Malaysian woman; the Malaysian male may instead bow in front of the woman as a gesture of greeting, instead of shaking her hand. To be on the safe side, it is best to wait if the person you are introduced to will extend his or her hand for a handshake or will use another manner of greeting, to avoid awkward situations.
More familiar or physical forms of greeting, such as kissing or hugging, is normally reserved for family members; you should avoid doing this for new acquaintances who may become very uncomfortable (or even offended) with the overly familiar gestures. One of the most common Malay greetings is done with the hands outstretched, lightly touching the other person’s hands, and bringing the hands to one’s own chest to signify, “I greet you from the bottom of my heart.” A simpler version of this greeting is done by placing the right hand over the left part of the chest while smiling.
Seniority plays a big role in Malaysian society, and significantly influences the way customs and etiquette are followed. In occasions when introductions are made to a family, the oldest male member of the family should be greeted first; this male member will also be given the best and the highest placed seat at a table or gathering, and is consulted first regarding any matter. In a business setting, the most senior Malaysian should also be the first to be greeted or acknowledged by the most senior member of the other group/party.
Dressing Up
Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, and this fact should be taken deeply into consideration when choosing which clothes to wear when going around. It is advisable to wear conservative clothing especially in rural areas, or when planning to enter a mosque or other places of worship. Ladies are advised to wear loose and long pants or skirts, and long-sleeved shirts especially when entering places of worship. Shorts, sleeveless shirts, and revealing clothes should be avoided – the shoulders should almost always be covered; however, dressing up in metropolitan areas such as the capital Kuala Lumpur can be more relaxed.
Shoes and other footwear are removed before entering a mosque or place of worship, and this practice is also followed in most Malaysian homes (to keep dirt from being brought inside the house). You can usually determine the number of people in a house by checking out the pairs of footwear left outside the door; numerous pairs of shoes by the doorway may mean that there is a large gathering of people inside the house.
All about the Hands
Always use your right hand when accepting, receiving, or passing anything because the left hand is considered to be dirty due to its assumed use in the washroom.
It is considered to be very rude to point using a finger. You can use your whole hand to indicate a place or direction, but never do this when gesturing towards a person. You can instead close your hand into a fist, place your thumb on top, and use this to point or gesture towards a person.
Food and Dining
Muslims are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages or any dish with pork in it – so don’t insist on buying an alcoholic drink for a Muslim Malaysian. Muslims only consume food that is prepared the Halal way, which means permissible by Islamic law hence why they look for restaurants that are certified Halal, or for food items that were prepared in this manner. Hindus, on the other hand, do not eat beef as they consider the cow to be a sacred animal.
The tips above are meant to make your trip to Malaysia a more comfortable and more enjoyable one. If you are placed in a social situation that gives you no idea on what to do next, the best thing to do is to keep your eyes open, and carefully observe what the other people around you are doing. Chances are, you won’t make a (huge) mistake by doing what the majority of people are doing. To paraphrase the popular saying – When in Malaysia, do as the Malaysians do!
Photos by phalinn, Stuck in Customs, travelustful and Danny Choo
