Malaysian business etiquette

Dear all,

 

 

This time I didn’t want to bother you with the culture or the meetings and exhibitions we have to do but I’d rather tell you a bit about the business etiquette in Malaysia. Malaysia is a multicultural country, you notice the Chinese, Indian, influences but that doesn’t seem to bother anyone. Thank God! ;-)

Before our trip I read a book about business etiquette in Asia and luckily Derek is there too to guide me through the business trips. He has done several Asian business trips so he knows all about the dos and the don’ts.

This etiquette is important as the respect you show someone’s business card is indicative of the respect you will show the individual in business. 

These are some do’s:

• If you hand over or take something, always do so with your right hand or if it is quite large, you can do it with both hands. The left hand is considered dirty and used for washroom visits.
• If you have a meeting with government officials, get your business card translated into Bahasa Malaysia
• it is important that the superior enters and introduces first and his inferiors after him / her
• Dress appropriate (trousers and for ladies: long shirt, long sleeves, ..) and especially in rural areas.

The don’ts:

• Don't put a business card in your pocket but read it first and certainly don’t write anything on it in your companion’s presence
• For presents: no things made of pigskin, no alcohol, for food only halal food, don’t use white (colour of death) or yellow paper (=colour of the royalties)
• Don’t open your gift when you receive it, it would give an impolite impression
• Don't be too direct and answer too quickly. They might consider it as rude and thoughtless. Be subtle and don’t reject somebody’s invitation directly because it could be seen as loss of face.
• It is essential to get to know each other first and then talk about business.  First make some small talk, the Malaysian senior will then move to the business discussion.
• A first meeting should be formal.
• Don't smile when you greet
• Don’t criticize royalties or the government
• Don’t sit cross legged

Normally, Malaysian people already share the Western habit of handshaking but… some don’t. Initial Malays didn’t have the habit of shaking hands with members of the opposite sex. If this is the case, men will bow and place their hand on their heart instead. It means “I greet you from the heart”. But a foreign man should always wait for the Malaysian woman to extend her hand.

But the strangest thing to me is their names. Normally (and certainly outside business) they don’t use surnames. Instead, they use bin (son of) or binti (daughter of).

Best wishes

 

Valerie

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/malaysia.html

http://www.destination-asia.com/malaysia/about/etiquette/