Explore Series

A Guide to Malaysian Cultures

- for staff working in the Higher Education

sector in the UK

www.thinking-people.co.uk

for more information contact info@thinking-people.co.uk

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We would like to thank the following for their contributions to this publication:

Yusuf Abdulrahman (Malaysian living and working in the UK, former international

student)

Dr Sin Wee Lee (Malaysian Lecturer working in UKHE and former international student)

Zhao Feng Ooi (Malaysian student studying in UK)

Kuan Haw Ng (Malaysian student studying in the UK)

Tsu Qi Lim (Malaysian student studying in the UK)

This publication is for personal use only unless the reproduction rights have been purchased from thinkingpeople, whereby the document can be shared within your institution. At no time should it be placed on a website unless it is in a

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Flagging it Up

Malaysia’s flag is similar to the stars and stripes of the United States. The fourteen stripes represent the fourteen states plus the federal territories of Malaysia. Like the US flag there is a blue square in the top left hand corner. Inside the square is a crescent representing the Islamic religion and a star with fourteen points again signifying the fourteen states.

www.worldskip.com

Introduction Malaysian culture is very diverse. On top of the indigenous culture, settlers from China, India and Europe have all played a part in shaping modern day Malaysia. Its population is comprised of different ethnic groups, with the politically dominant Malays making up approximately half of the population and those of Chinese descent about a quarter. Indigenous people make up about a tenth of the population and about 7 per cent are of Indian descent (www.cia.gov). Martin Gannon, an author who has described 28 cultures of the world in his book ‘Understanding Global Cultures” refers to Malaysia as a ‘cleft’ culture, where “the three ethnic groups [Malay, Chinese, Indian] operate separately from one another” (2004). Gannon argues that this may stem from the time of British rule when its inhabitants were subject to a ‘divide and rule’ approach. During this time the Chinese were brought in to work in the mines, but were not allowed to own land (although some of them did trade). The Indians were brought in to work on the plantations and were housed there, away from Malays, who lived in the towns. These divides were also mirrored in the education system. This ‘separation’ has caused tensions in the past. Hofstede argues, however, that the group-oriented approach of each of these cultures means that “for the majority of the time they find “a ‘modus vivendi’ in which groups tolerate and complement each other” (2005).

“In Malaysia, Malays, Chinese, Indians and expatriates have discovered that

cross-cultural etiquette and the art of obliging another’s sense of decorum is the essence of racial harmony”

Footprint Guide, 5th Edition

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What’s in a name?

Addressing Malaysians properly can be difficult, especially for those unfamiliar with the naming patterns of the country's various ethnic groups. During an introduction, it can be helpful to make a point of repeating the title and name of the person and then afterwards asking if you got everything right.

Naming Patterns Malay Naming Patterns Malays are always known by their given names, which are often derived from Arabic. A Malay male is usually known by a given name followed by “bin” (son of) plus his father's name. A Malay woman is usually identified by her given name plus “binti” (daughter of), followed by her father's name. Some Westernised Malays drop the “bin” or “binti” from their name. When addressing or referring to a Malay you should usually add a title (Mr, Mrs, Professor etc) to their given name. Chinese Naming Patterns Chinese names usually appear in a different order than Western names. Family name comes first. So if their name is Wang Xiao Mei. Wang would be their family name and Xiao Mei their given name. When a woman marries she keeps her family name, but her children will take their father’s surname. Indian Naming Patterns Traditionally, Hindus do not have family surnames. Instead they use the initial of their father's name first, followed by their given name. When an Indian woman marries, she usually stops using her father's initial and uses her husband's name followed by her given name instead.

Many Malaysian Chinese and Indians adopt an English first name to make it easier for Westerners to address them.

www.en.wikipedia.org & Kwintessential, 2012

Greetings

Handshakes are fairly common when meeting someone in Malaysia especially between people of the same sex. However you may find handshakes more gentle than you are used to, more “’hand-touching’ than ‘handshaking’”. (Munan, 2003) Malays may follow a handshake by touching their right hand to their chest, which means “I am pleased to meet you from the bottom of my heart”. Malays usually greet other Malays with the traditional salam. The salam is done by placing the palms of your hands together and stretching your fingertips

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to touch those of the other person. After doing this you withdraw your hands and bring them to your heart or your chin. If people are of equal status they may salam only using one hand, but it will always be the right hand. (King, 2008) When Malays meet someone from another culture there will usually be a handshake and a greeting of Apa khabar? meaning ‘How are you?’ (Dr. Sin Wee Lee, 2012) Some Malays may be reluctant to shake hands with the opposite sex. If this is the case a smile and a nod will suffice. Hugging and kissing in public (between non-family members) is seen much less often in Malaysia than in the UK.

What’s safe to talk about and what’s not!

Be aware that in Malaysia people often ask questions about your weight, income, marital status, and related subjects that might appear very personal to someone from the UK. This type of questioning is considered good manners as it is seen

as a way to get to know you and find out who you are. If you don't wish to answer these types of enquiries, side-step these questions as

graciously as possible. Do not express annoyance, outrage, or similar feelings that will cause the questioner to “lose face.”

When speaking to Malaysians the following topics of conversations are best avoided “how they should administer their country, conduct their elections,

performs their devotions or protect their environment” (Munan, 2003).

www.executiveplanet.com & Munan, 2003

Relationships, Family & Gender

Conservatism “Despite the obvious openness to influences around the world and the urbanity of Kuala Lumpar, society in Malaysia remains fairly conservative and conformist. Behaviour that departs from established cultural norms – basically anything that draws attention to the individual concerned – can create a bit of a scene and be problematic.”

Rough Guide, 2006

The family is considered very important in Malaysian culture and family matters and interests take priority over other relationships. Families spend a lot

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of time together and all the three major ethnic groups have a time in the year when they return home to their rural villages and get together with their extended family. For the Chinese this is Chinese New Year, for Hindus - Deepvali and for Muslims – Hari raya. (King 2008) Malaysian culture is very communal and decisions are usually made only after everyone - family, colleagues and friends have been consulted. This collective decision-making emphasises mutual cooperation and consensus in a calm and controlled manner. Malaysian society is very hierarchical. The head of the family is usually the senior male, and family members have specific names that allow you to know more about their rank in the family structure e.g. first uncle, second uncle etc. (Communicaid, 2012) Triandis and Gelfand (1998) describe Malaysian society as based on ‘vertical collectivism’ which they argue “tends to give rise to powerful leaders whose orders are accepted without question…however such leaders are required to take care of group members in return for such unquestioned loyalty.” (Gannon, 2004) Malay women are among the most emancipated in the Islamic world. They often attain prominent roles in business and academia. They are also very much the linchpin of the family and husbands often let their wives lead on matters in the home. (Rough Guide, 2006)

Divisions between males and females

“A situation that encounter by my friend: A guy approached her with just a towel round asking how to switch the light on. We found this very awkward.

There is much more division between male and female in Malaysian society – and we usually only have single sex dorms at University.”

Tsu Qi Lim, Malaysian student in UK, 2013

Give a little respect

Everyone needs to be a winner

“Preserving respect and dignity is fundamental to understanding Malaysians…While the East and West both seek to protect and preserve face for all, people from Asian nations such as Malaysia also attempt to give face so that everyone is a winner, at least to some degree.”

Gannon, 2004

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In Malaysian society what others think of you matters. Malaysian people tend to have a strong feeling of ‘shame’ (malu) and are concerned with keeping ‘face’. ‘Face’ is really a person’s sense of self-esteem; if ‘face’ is lost the victim can feel shame maybe to the extent that they withdraw or become uncooperative. (King, 2008) Malaysians will always try to avoid confrontations. Losing control of one's emotions in public is one way of ‘losing face’ and seen as inappropriate behavior. By remaining calm at all times, you will be perceived as being able to control your emotions, rather than allowing them to control you. (Kwintessential, 2012). Age is highly respected in Malaysian culture. The word dato for example, is used to describe an award given by royalty but means grandfather. You should make a point of acknowledging the eldest person in a group first. (Munan, 2003) In both Malay and Chinese cultures there is a saying that older people have ‘eaten more salt’ i.e. lived longer than young people, and therefore should be respected and listened to If you make a mistake or offend them, Malaysians are unlikely to correct or tell you. You may however receive a cool or distant response. (King, 2008)

Religion

Religious celebrations

“Possibly nowhere in the world is the calendar as filled with religious holidays as in Malaysia. And possibly nowhere in the world is there an open-door policy like Malaysia's for religious festivals. Friends of other faiths, whether they be from

across the street or across the world, are welcomed into the homes and cultures of celebrants for a short time as their respective religious holiday is observed.”

www.geographia.com

Islam is Malaysia’s official religion and accounts for 60% of the population. The other religions are Buddhism (19%), Christianity (9%, mostly in East Malaysia), and Hinduism (6%). (www.cia.gov) The Malays, which form the largest community, are usually Muslims. One has to be Muslim to be legally Malay under Malaysian law. (Wikipedia, 2012) On an individual basis, Malaysians tend to respect one another's religious beliefs, with inter-religious problems arising mainly from the political sphere.

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Public Holidays

. "Hari Merdeka" or Independence Day (31st August) - the most celebrated holiday

commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957

Labour Day (1st May)

The King's Birthday (first Saturday of June)

Attitude to Time

Laid back “In Malaysia, people generally are laid back…though punctuality is a value commonly aspired toward. Malays are seen as relaxed, Chinese industrious and the Indians as hard-workers”.

Yusuf Abdulrahman, Malaysian working in UK

The concept of time in Malaysia is generally more flexible than in the UK, so much so it is sometimes referred to locally as ‘rubber time’. (King, 2008) Social events involving different cultural groups have varying rules about time-keeping. However, in general most Malaysians arrive on time or slightly late (but by no more than half an hour!). Guests may arrive a few minutes early only when a close friendship has been established. (Executiveplanet,2012) Whilst punctuality is not always a priority in Malaysia, you should still arrive on time for appointments. Even if you know you are going to be kept waiting, make an effort to arrive on time. Making a Malaysian wait can result in ‘loss of face’, which may have negative consequences for your relationship.

All the time in the world

“I’ve got this theory. You ask a guy for directions in Malaysia. If the guy is Chinese he knows where you want to go, but he won’t tell you how to get there. If he’s Indian he knows and he’ll tell you. If he’s Malay he won’t know the place, but he’ll talk for 10 hours about everything else. It’s the temperament. Friendly, no hang-ups, outgoing. All the time in the world.”

Paul Theroux, travel writer, in ‘Dependent Wife’

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The importance of the ‘right’ hand!

Shake with your right hand, accept with your right hand, give things with your

right hand, and eat with your right hand. The left hand is associated with being dirty, and used only for removing shoes, cleaning feet and going to the toilet! While you can hold a cup or utensil in your left hand, you should not eat, pass

food, or wipe you mouth with it.

Get with the language… The Malay language, also known locally as Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Malaysia is the official language of Malaysia. Here are a few words to get you started:

Welcome – Selamat datang How are you? – Apa khabar

Fine, good– Khabar baik Thank-you – Terima kasih

What is your name? Apa nama anda/kamu? My name is? Nama saya...

Forgive me/ Excuse me – Minta Ma’af Yes – Ya

No – Tidak

King, 2008 & Dr Sin Wee Lee

English is also widely spoken and is often used as the means of communication between ethnic groups. Hokkien Chinese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi and Tamil are the other major ethnic minority languages. Malaysians have also developed their own form of English which is a mix of Malay and English. Ambulans, aspirin, bank, doktor, telefon just a few of the adapted words Malaysians use. (King, 2008)

…..and communicate!

Politeness Malaysians “emphasize the need to be polite even while disagreeing. An abrasive, confrontational style is problematic”.

Gannon, 2004

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Because maintaining harmony and avoiding confrontation is very important for Malaysians, they tend to want to avoid using the word ‘no’. They may use proverbs, metaphor or a third party to deliver a negative answer. (Executive planet, 2012) Malaysians tend to be more comfortable with silence than Westerners. If you ask a Malaysian a question, rather than responding immediately, they will pause for a moment in silence. This silent pause allows them time to collect their thoughts and is also a way of showing respect to the questioner. (Kwintessential, 2012) Outbursts of laughter are not always indicative of amusement in Malaysian culture. More often, laughter is used to mask ‘loss of face’, nervousness, shyness or disapproval. (Kwintessential, 2012)

When do Malaysians really mean ‘no’?

If they don’t give you a direct answer. A “yes” that sounds hesitant or weak usually means “no.” Qualified answers are usually an indication of a “no.” For example, if someone answers “yes, but...” or “That might be difficult...” they often mean “no”. If the respondent deliberately ignores your question, this is often another way of indicating “no”. Sucking in air through your teeth is one way to signal a definite answer of “no.”

www.executiveplanet.com

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

“The most noticeable hallmark of a Malay home is cleanliness – the brighter the house the more blessings God will bestow upon those who dwell within its walls”.

Insight Guide, 2005

Food and Dining

Food features heavily in Malaysian culture and the Malaysians are perceived to be “always eating” (Munan, 2003). Of course, they don’t actually eat more than other people, but they do eat often, in small amounts. You may hear people referring to “Makan”, the Malaysian word for ‘snack’, which is eaten at any time of the day, usually at one of the many food stalls.

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Tea-making – Malaysian style

‘Teh tarik’ which literally means ‘pulled tea’ is made by adding a large spoonful of condensed milk to hot tea in a large beaker. The milky drink is then poured from a great height into another container, in a stream as if is being ‘pulled’. The tea-

maker will repeat this task until the tea is frothy. It is then served in a glass.

Globetrotter, 2006

Whilst the various ethnic groups have their own dishes, many dishes in Malaysia are derived from multiple ethnic influences. Malaysian food is best characterised by its extensive use of chilli and/or coconut milk and frying! Rice is the basis of the diet of most Malaysians. Noodles are also popular. Having a Malay meal consists of a one-time serving of rice and various types of vegetable, meat and fish dishes served in bowls and plates (as opposed to course-by-course meal favoured by Western and formal Chinese dining). Ulam and sambal belacan are considered a ‘must’ in any authentic Malay meal. Ulam consisting of raw or steamed vegetables or leaves (considered to be highly beneficial for your health) are usually dipped into 'sambal belacan'; shrimp paste blended with fresh chillies (the hotter the better), and/or with some anchovies and tamarind juice. Drinks and snacks are usually served to guests, especially before you go on a journey. Try and always make at least a token effort to taste what is offered as it is considered rude to refuse.

Five of the best!

Satay – marinated meat, skewered on thin sticks. Served with a peanut sauce Laksa – hot soupy dish of rice noodles Roti canai – pancake like bread cooked on a hot plate and served with chickpea curry Mee Goreng – fried noodles with seafood, meat and vegetables seasoned with soy sauce Nasi Lemak – coconut rice served with samba belachan (shrimp paste), fried peanuts, anchovies and boiled egg. Popular for breakfast.

Gift Giving

Gift giving in Malaysia is as important as it is in much of Asia. When you are presented with a gift you should never refuse it. By accepting the gift you are often seen as agreeing to reciprocate at some point.

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Gifts are not opened in front of the giver. Opening presents alone allows both the giver and recipient to ‘save face’. There is a cultural belief that the giver and recipient may be embarrassed if the gift turns out to be a poor choice. A gift should traditionally be received in both hands, palms facing upwards. Do not wrap your gift with white paper because this colour is associated with death and mourning. Blue, black, and yellow (for Malay although not for Indian or Chinese) gift-wrap should also be avoided. (Executiveplanet, 2012)

Education

Education is seen as very important in Malaysian culture, with families of all ethnic groups devoting large amounts of time and resources to ensuring their children receive the best support in school, college and university (King, 2008). Education is provided free by the government up to the age of 16 and is compulsory from the age of six. In Malaysia, there is equal access for men and women to education. In fact in higher education women outnumber men two to one (King, 2008). In school, classes are mainly taught in Bahasa Malaysia. Maths and Science were taught in English (Munan, 2003), but in 2009 the government decided to revert back to using Malay starting from 2012. (Wikipedia, 2012) In Malaysia, demand and supply for higher education is ever increasing. “In 2000, Malaysia had 16 universities and 15 polytechnics. By 2008, it had 35 universities, 37 polytechnics and 24 university colleges. Over the same period, student numbers rose from 664,000 to 873,000” (THE, 2009). However according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit lack of space, limited financing and quality has led many students to look abroad for their education. The UK is the leading choice of Malaysian students studying abroad which received nearly 14,000 Malaysian students in 2010/11. (THE, 2009 & HESA, 2012)

A reverse brain drain

““Educity”, as the Johor complex is called [on the southernmost tip of peninsula Malaysia], reflects Malaysia's grand strategy to become a centre for Western

education. The country wants to meet strong demand among Asia's new middle classes for English-language schooling. It also worries about its brain drain (over

300,000 university-educated Malaysians work abroad). Having watched Asian children flock west to spend a lot of money on British and American schools, the

government decided a few years ago to try to reverse the trend. It has campaigned to persuade Western schools and colleges to come and set up branch campuses. The Malaysian proposition to Asian parents is simple and

beguiling: come to these famous schools and universities in our country and get the same degrees and qualifications as in Britain or America for half the price.” So far UK Universities such as Nottingham, Newcastle and Southampton have set up campuses there alongside a number of Australian and US Universities

Economist, 2011

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Some Malaysian perspectives on the UKHE

The importance of titles

“As the use of titles as a way to show respect is very common in Malaysia some Malaysian students may feel uncomfortable calling their lecturers by their given name. If they do use their teacher’s given name they will usually prefer to add a title.”

Dr Sin Wee Lee, Malaysian lecturer, 2013

Patience

“Here [in the UK] the teaching is more flexible – you can raise questions, speak out spontaneously. The lecturers are more patient and enthusiastic in answering

them. In Malaysia there is more spoon-feeding – students follow slides on a board and just copy them down when the lecturers explain to us. Then you are

tested on these in exams…the teaching timetable is very packed in Malaysia. In the UK, the students have more free time to do self-study or research.”

Siew-Hong Chia, Malaysian student in UK, 2013

If you don’t catch it, you miss it

“Here [in the UK] in lecturers if you don’t catch it, you miss it. Maybe there is a handout to accompany the lecture telling you where you can get the information from, but they do not give the information to you (like they do in Malaysia), you

have to find it out for yourself. ...In Malaysia you have classes every day Monday to Friday and the lecture gives you all the information you need.... Seminars are also different. In Malaysia you might get away for not preparing for seminar fully

as the seminar takers will guide us and provide us answer during discussion unlike in the UK where students have to contribute the answer.”

Tsu Qi Lim, Malaysian student in UK, 2013

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Not coming forward

“Malaysian students in the UK tend to be very quiet in class...Back in Malaysia,

we are not taught to give our opinion but just to accept what the teacher says…Malaysian students in the UK tend to stick to their own group. They don’t dare to mix with British/white people. They feel inferior and stick to their comfort

zone”.

Zhao Feng Ooi, Malaysian student in UK, 2013

Creativity

“As the Malaysian education system can be exam-oriented students from Malaysia can lack certain soft skills and practical skills…They might not think

‘outside of the box’. They do what teachers ask and may not be creative. This is particularly so for people coming from more rural areas. They can find it harder to

adapt to the culture here.”

Kuan Haw Ng, Malaysian student in UK, 2013

Stereotyping

“Many people stereotype Asian students, especially the Chinese, eg. that they just study all day.”

Kuan Haw Ng, Malaysian student in UK, 2013

Homesickness

“The time difference between here and Malaysia (about 8-9 hours) makes it hard for me to keep in touch with your family, and initially I was very homesick...The student lifestyle here is different. Here students will go to the pub or clubbing in

the evening. In Malaysia we do revision in the evening and go to cinema or shopping centre instead.”

Siew-Hong Chia, Malaysian student in UK, 2013

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Bibliography: Understanding Global Cultures: metaphorical journeys through 28 nations, clusters of nations, and continents M. J. Gannon (Sage, 2004) Culture shock Malaysia H. Munan (Kuperard, 2003) Culture Smart Malaysia V. King (Kuperard, 2008) Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei - Lonely Planet Country Guide. S. Richmond (Lonely Planet, 2007) Malaysia & Singapore, 5th edition D. Gardner (Footprint - Travel Guides, 2005) Rough Guide Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. C. de Ledesma et al (Rough Guide, 2006) Insight Guide - Malaysia (Insight Guide, 2005) Rivalry hots up but Malaysian students prefer British brand. P. Baty (THE, July 2009) A reverse brain drain: Ambitious plans to become an Asian hub for Western education (Economist, May 5th 2011) www.worldskip.com www.cia.gov www.en.wikipedia.org www.executiveplanet.com www.geographia.com www.hesa.ac.uk www.communicaid.com www.kwintessential.co.uk

Further Information If you would like to read more about Malaysia and its cultures here are some books you might like to check out: Malaysia specific: Culture shock Malaysia. Heidi Munan (Kuperard, 2003) Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei - Lonely Planet Country Guide. S. Richmond (Lonely Planet, 2007) Understanding Global Cultures: metaphorical journeys through 28 nations, clusters of nations, and continents. M. J. Gannon (Sage, 2004) Culture Smart Malaysia. V. King (Kuperard, 2008)

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In such a short guide it is, of course, impossible to capture the real complexity of human life in any part of the world. In our Explore© guides we include information that we hope will give people, new to a culture, a starting point for further exploration and deeper conversation with people from that culture. We strongly believe there is no better way to finding out about a culture than talking to and getting to know people from that culture! We have put this guide together in good faith based on research from a range of sources. The quotes we have added are the thoughts of those individuals and are not necessarily the opinions of thinkingpeople. They have been included because we think they are thought-provoking or striking in some way. Of course, what people say about another culture often says as much about them as it does about the culture they describe.

Where possible these guides have been reviewed by nationals from the relevant country and some of their thoughts have also been included. If you feel there are any inaccuracies please do let us know at info@thinking-people.co.uk.

We would recommend that these guides are used alongside our training, where we emphasise the importance of reflecting on your own values and behaviours and also explore the dangers of relying on over-generalisations about cultures. If you would like to know more about our training please contact us at info@thinking-people or check out our website: www.thinking-people.co.uk.

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