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 one, use common polite forms of address such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss, followed in most cases by their last name.

Names and surnames differ structurally depending on the ethnic group. For example, Chinese people place their surname before their first name, such as Wang Chi Beng. It is common for Chinese Malaysians to adopt a European first name for international interactions, for example, William Chi Beng.

Suppose someone with the surname Li Zifu Ping holds the position of general manager. You should address him as General Manager Li. If your Malay partner is introduced to you in this manner, you should also introduce yourself by stating your position and surname (but not your first name).

After marriage, Chinese Malaysian women usually keep their maiden names. Children inherit their father's surname.

Malay names typically have Arabic origins. However, they are personal names, not surnames, as last names are not commonly used in Malay society. Instead, a person’s name is followed by their father’s name. For example, Suleiman Rashid or the full form Suleiman bin Rashid (Suleiman, son of Rashid). The same structure applies to women’s names, but instead of “bin” (son of), “binti” is used, such as Naimah Talib or the full form Naimah binti Talib (Naimah, daughter of Talib).

Similar to Chinese Malaysians, Malay women retain their maiden names after marriage. However, some (especially in business) may add their husband's name in addition to their father's.

Most Malaysian Indians do not have traditional surnames. A boy born into a family is given a first name, for instance, Kumar. For official situations, business interactions, and documents, he will be referred to as B. Kumar, where "B" stands for his father’s name, in this case, Baskaran. In English texts, you may see the abbreviation "s/o" (son of), such as s/o B. Kumar, meaning Kumar, son of Baskaran.

The same rule applies to women. In official English texts, the abbreviation "d/o" (daughter of) is used, such as d/o B. Nita, meaning Nita, daughter of Baskaran. After marriage, an Indian Malaysian woman may use her husband's name instead of her father's. However, she can still be addressed using her own name, such as Madam Nita.

Across all Malaysian cultures, the following order of introductions is common: those holding the highest position are introduced to those of lower rank; the eldest is introduced to younger people; and women are introduced to men.

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 name, surname, and contact information, include your position, professional titles, and/or academic degrees or distinctions, as well as any additional qualifications you have. Your Malaysian colleague will certainly appreciate all of these.

If you are a guest, be the one to initiate the exchange of business cards with the host. When giving a card to your partner (and likewise when receiving one), hold it with both hands. When you get a business card, please hold it for a moment with both hands, carefully look at the text, and then place it on the table in front of you or in your cardholder.

Never make any notes or write on the business cards you receive from your Malaysian colleague.

For a business trip to Malaysia, you will need a fairly large number of business cards, as you will likely exchange them at all possible business and social events.

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 effective working relationships with Malaysians. At the same time, it’s important to be polite and ensure that no one present feels offended, even unintentionally.

The topics for small talk are usually very general. During conversations, it’s best to maintain a neutral and polite tone, preferring vague or noncommittal statements.

An important element of conversation in Malaysian culture is silence, which often comes as a silent pause. This indicates the participants' attentiveness to the topic and respect for the speaker. They are, in a sense, reflecting on what they just heard. Don’t become impatient if you feel the silent pause is too long.

Silence during a conversation is not perceived negatively, whether in business or social settings in Malaysia. On the contrary, a person who talks a lot may be seen as “young and immature.” It is not necessary to respond to every statement of the interlocutor, which may be challenging for people from many other cultures.

It’s important to always remember that in such indirect communication, it’s common to speak figuratively, sometimes using various figures of speech (metaphors, comparisons, epithets), especially if the situation is tense for any reason. Try to be extremely tactful and attentive to the words of your partner.

Emotional displays, especially negative ones, are not encouraged during conversations. Showing anger or frustration will make your Malaysian partner feel uncomfortable, which is unlikely to contribute to successful relationship building.

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 Policy, which is aimed at encouraging ethnic Malays to pursue education, work in government, and start their own businesses.

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, verbal part of speech. If any misunderstanding or ambiguity arises regarding a statement, foreign partners should seek clarification from their Malaysian colleague.

In Malaysian culture, the concept of "face" is important, along with related ideas such as "losing face" and "saving face." This refers to a person's reputation and image. Loss of face occurs when someone is criticized, contradicted, or humiliated in front of others.

For Malaysians, regardless of their background, maintaining their own face and preventing others from losing face is a very important element of communication. Especially when they need to say something unpleasant or negative, they will behave very cautiously, avoiding direct statements, sticking to formalities, and speaking "around" the subject rather than addressing it directly.

In communication with Malaysian partners, it is important to pay attention to various verbal and non-verbal cues. If a Malaysian really needs to refuse a request, they may still say "yes," as a direct "no" could lead to a loss of face or disrupt harmony in the relationship.

When building business relationships with partners from this Asian country, it is important to always keep in mind the nuances of their communication (primarily the concept of face). In delicate situations, it is often better to return to the topic under discussion several times under different pretexts, asking your question from a different angle each time.