Malaysia🕣
State in Southeast Asia. Official name – Malaysia. Population – 33.1 million people (as of 2020). Capital – Kuala Lumpur. Official language – Malay. Government type – federal constitutional monarchy. Main religion – Islam.
Malaysia
Greeting
Malaysia is a multiethnic and multicultural country, so forms of greeting may vary depending on the ethnicity of the person you are dealing with: Chinese, Malays, or Indians.
Chinese Malaysians traditionally exchange a handshake accompanied by a bow, or just a bow. Men greet each other with a handshake when meeting and saying goodbye. Women typically initiate the handshake by offering their hand.
The handshake among Chinese Malaysians is light and soft, and it may be quite prolonged. During greetings, many Chinese in Malaysia avoid direct eye contact as a sign of respect.
Among Malays, most of whom practice Islam, the common greeting is the "salam." In this greeting, both parties extend their hands, lightly touching each other's hands. Then, they withdraw their hands and place them on their chest near the heart. Using both hands. Using both hands shows respect to someone older or of higher status. Among equals, the salam is performed with just the right hand.
When meeting foreigners, Muslim Malays typically greet them with a handshake. However, physical contact between genders is generally avoided in Muslim culture. Therefore, businesswomen should be aware that their male counterparts may not initiate a handshake as it is not customary in their culture.
The same applies to foreign men greeting women during business meetings. Women are more likely to simply nod their head (a slight bow) rather than extend a hand for a handshake. In such cases, some men in Malaysia may place their hand over their chest near the heart. When businesswomen meet, they usually exchange handshakes.
The traditional greeting among Malaysian Indians is "Namaste," which is used by both men and women. To perform this greeting, you place your palms together in a prayer-like gesture at chest level and give a slight bow. This greeting can be an alternative to a handshake.
When greeting a group of colleagues, start with the highest-ranking or oldest person. Status, which is primarily reflected in a person's position, rank, or age, is a very important concept in Malaysian business culture.
Introduction
In Malaysia, people generally address each other by using professional titles, positions, or ranks, followed by the person’s last name. When addressing a Chinese individual, you should use their surname with the title or position, while for Malays and Indians, you use their first name.
If you are unaware of your partner's professional titles, ranks, or positions, or if they do not have ...
Exchange of Business Cards
In Malaysian business practices, it is customary to exchange business cards during introductions at the beginning of the first meeting, right after greetings.
The text on the business card can be in English. If you know in advance that your partner is of Chinese Malaysian origin, it would be good to prepare business cards with text in Chinese on one side.
In addition to your na...
Small Talk: Overview
Developing and maintaining relationships is of great importance in Malaysian business culture. This is especially crucial in interactions with foreign partners. Therefore, pay special attention to small talk with the Malaysian side.
Try to ensure that your conversation with a Malaysian partner does not seem dry or overly formal. Only informal, friendly conversations will help establish ...
Preferred Topics
Family, specifically the extended family, including relatives and even close friends.
Impressions of the country.
Hobbies, interests, travel.
National cuisine.
Weather, current events, and daily news.
Sports, especially football (soccer) and golf....
Taboo Topics
Avoid discussing political topics, especially those related to the fight against racial injustice and human rights.
Various religious issues, which are sensitive in Malaysian society, mind the diverse range of religious beliefs in the country.
It is best not to criticize the policies of the Malaysian government in the presence of Malaysian partners, particularly the New Economic...
Personal Space
During conversations, interlocutors (both men and women) stand at arm’s length from each other.
In general, physical contact and any touches, except for handshakes, are not encouraged.
During interactions, Malaysians avoid excessive gesturing and speaking too loudly....
Communication Specifics
Malaysian society can be characterized as high-context. This means that a certain portion of information remains unsaid or implied, as all necessary information either comes from the context of the situation or is understood without words by all participants, as it is embedded in the culture itself.
Sometimes non-verbal signals carry significantly more information than the explicit, ver...
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