Conduction Business

Conduction Business

             Malaysia has a mix of several cultures. 58 percent of the population is Malay, 24 

percent are Chinese and 8 percent are Indians. Their customs are significantly different, 

especially in the business culture. In Malaysia, there is only limited exposure to other cultures

 except for neighboring countries. 


          Relationship and Respect-In Malaysia's culture, group-oriented is very important. We

must maintain harmony among our members to make sure that the work is processed by 

smoothly. Trusting personal relationships is critically important to all of the Malaysians. In 

Malaysia, business people usually do business without choosing the races, either Malay, 

Chinese and Indians. A long-term perspective and commitment is required to establish 

productive business. 


           We must have familiarity, respect and personal trust to each other in the business field. It 

is not only between people, but also between companies. You will not necessarily be trusted by 

other companies, although you have won your local business partners' friendship and trust. So, 

it is very important to keep company interfaces unchanged. It may require you to spend a lot of 

time to build relationship again. 


           Communication- Bahasa Melayu is the official language of Malaysia. Most of the 

Malaysian has pronunciations and grammar problem, which can lead to misunderstandings to 

other people. When communicating in English, we must speak in short, simple sentences . If 

you speak slowly, summarize your key points often, and pause frequently, it will allow time for 

interpretation. Correspondence with government officials must be in Bahasa Melayu.


          Malaysian business people usually speak in soft and gentle tones. Malaysian will ask 

politely when asking a question to the employer. The conversations may include extended 

periods of silence. They will make a respectful pause before answering a question. Malaysians 

usually stand around two or three feet apart when they converse with each others. 

Social Customs

Social Customs

There are many races and religions in Malaysia. Every race or religions have their own beliefs and customs to 

follow. All of the Malaysians are able to live together in a harmony multicultural living environment as they 

want to achieve peace and unity by respecting each others' beliefs and customs. 

Although handshakes are generally enough for both men and women, some of the Muslim ladies may also 

agree with using nodding head and smiling as a greeting with a gentleman. For Muslims, the way to greet with 

each others is "Salam" and it has the same meaning with a handshake. A younger person usually offers the 

"Salam" by taking hold of the hands of the elder people. Then, that's usually followed by a verbal greeting 

"Assalamualaikum", which means that 'peace be upon you'. For a non-Muslim, they should know that in 

Islam, physical contact between the opposite sex is not allowed. So, when a non-Muslim is offering a 

handshake to a member of the opposite sex which is Muslim, he/she should not be frightened if the 

handshake is not accepted. For Chinese, they are always calling their family names by adding Mr., Mrs., or 

Miss and then a handshake and a "hello" or "hi" are suitable to be used when you are greeting to each others.

How Malay greet with each other

How Chinese greet with each other 

How Indian greet with each other

Shoes are not allowed if you want to enter someone's house, mosque or temples. So, we must remove our 

shoes first before we are going to enter a Malaysian's house, mosque, Indian temple or a Buddhist temple. 

Besides that, ladies are advised to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts when entering mosques 

and temples. Also, we need to call people politely first before we visit a home. For example, when we want 

to enter a people's house, we need to ask for permission politely first.

Mosque

Chinese Temple

Indian Temple

In Malaysia, right hand is always used when eating with one's hand or when giving or receiving objects. Also,

the left hand isn't used because most of the Malaysians are using their left hand to clean their lower body

after they finish using the toilet.

In addition, the business card is always exchanged with each other and should be giving or receiving with 

both of our hands at all the times. It is because that if we receive something with both hands, it will show that 

we respect the people. Next, we have to read the business card first and understand what is the job or 

position of the people, then only we keep it inside our pocket. It will show we are paying fully respectful to 

the people so that the people will respect us too. Besides that, we should never give alcohol drinks to

Muslims because alcohol drinks are prohibited and not allowed in the Muslim religion. So, toasting is not

famous in Malaysia because Malaysia has a large Muslim population, those cannot having an alcohol drink.

So, we can only see people toasting when someone is organizing a party. Also, we should never give clock,

watches, knives or white flowers to a Chinese person because the white flowers signify to death in Chinese

culture, so are the clocks, knives and watches, there are the words those are related to death.

Legal & Ethics

Legal & Ethics

     Malaysia is no different than other countries with regards to the business laws, but, it has been written to 

suit the culture of its’ citizens. For example, prior permission of the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) has 

to be obtained before an acquisition of a substantial fixed asset in Malaysia by a foreign interest which 

includes non-Malaysian individuals, companies incorporated outside Malaysia, and Malaysian incorporated 

companies in which foreign interests hold more than 50% of the voting shares or has management control. 

Other than that, Malaysia also practices Islamic law for the Muslim citizen.

     Additionally, there are many business etiquette that one must follow and practice when doing business in 

Malaysia. One must be patient during business negotiations. The process is often a long and detailed one that 

should not be hastened. One should remain polite and demonstrate good etiquette at all times. Elderly 

Malaysian business people for example should be treated with respect and always be acknowledged before 

younger members of the organization.  Take time to establish productive business relationships with your 

colleagues. Initial meetings are generally orientated towards developing such relationships and will be 

maintained throughout and beyond the negotiations. Besides that, do not assume that a signed contract 

signifies a final agreement. It is common for negotiations to continue after a contract has been signed. Do not 

be surprised if your colleagues ask what you may consider to be personal questions. In Malaysia, for 

example, asking people about their age, income and marital status is not uncommon and is viewed as an 

acceptable approach to initial conversations. 

Traditional attires are also accepted as office wear in   

       Malaysia.

Women's office wear.

Men's office wear.

 Men and women office wear.

Cultural Context

Cultural Context 

        

    Malaysia is a high context society. This means that Malaysians are more likely to rely on implicit 

communication rather than explicit messages. Malaysians as a result read more into what is said than the 

words themselves may actually mean. For most Malaysians, what is meant matters more than what is actually 

said. In Malaysia, meaning is usually communicated indirectly. As a result, Malaysians are likely to agree to 

things with which they disagree, allowing the context of the discussion or past relationship to convey their 

disagreement.

    Malaysians, as a high context culture, place a strong value on face saving. The Malaysian conception of 

face-saving takes the form of the avoidance of shame. In Malaysia, one commonly holds to a contract to 

maintain appearances rather than from fear of a lawsuit. Malaysia is a polychromic culture. The Malaysians 

value friendship, personal commitments and the completion of task at hand at the expense of present 

schedules.

Culture of Malaysia

Culture of Malaysia 

                       Every country has a culture which its citizen practice, however, Malaysia has an unique 

culture because of the diversity of its' citizens.The Malaysian citizen are made of three main race which is 

Malay, Chinese and Indian. There are also other races in the country such as Sikh and Bumiputras. The 

Bumiputras are non-Malay indigenous people, including ethnic Thais, Khmers, Chams and the natives of 

Sabah and Sarawak. All these ethnic cultures have influenced each other, creating a truly Malaysian culture.

                      The basic attitude of a Malaysian is acceptance, courteous, respectful, honest, sincere, 

generous, modest, humble, helpful and hardworking.The Malaysians practice this attitudes on a daily basis 

with their elders and their peers. For Malaysians, family value is very important in their life. This is the reason 

why most Malaysians have such good manner towards others in society. Moving on, there are many belief 

within the Malaysian society which can be seen through the festivals celebrated in the country. For example, 

Thaipusam in January, Chinese New Year in February, Hari Gawai & Dragon Boat Festival in June, 

Independence Day & Hari Raya Aidilfitri in August and Christmas in December.

                      Besides that, the business culture in Malaysia is closely related with their beliefs and tradition. 

For example of tradition is the practice of the structure and hierarchy in Malaysian companies.Malaysian 

companies generally follow a vertical hierarchical structure where authority is directed from the top. Titles 

and job descriptions play a significant part in many Malaysian companies in order to emphasis the line of 

authority within the business. 

                      Furthermore, Malaysians' respect for authority is evident in most business dealings.The 

relationship between subordinates and their superiors for example is distinct and highly official with the use of 

titles such as "Mr" and "Madam" followed by their honorific form of address. Relationships between 

Malaysian business colleagues are based on mutual respect and, as such, the same procedure used when 

addressing their superiors is also applied with their Malaysian business colleagues. 

                                   

Malay

Kudang Kepang

Nasi Lemak

Hari Raya 

Chinese

Lion Dance

Moon Cake

Tahun Baru Cina

Indian

Kuchipudi

Banana Leaf Rice

Deepavali

Paal Kavadi

       

Non-verbal communication

Non-Verbal Communication

There are three major phyletic groupings in Malaysia, the Malays, the Chinese, and the Indians.There are

also a number of other horde and gens of the native race in West and East Malaysia.

There are many types of non-verbal communication which including space and distance, physical contact,

facial expressions, gestures and eye contact. Most of the Malaysians have the most common gestures and

facial expression. They tend to avoid speaking in a loud voice and standing while being introduced to

someone. They will look each other in the eyes while communicating.

For gestures of non-verbal communication, people would tend to make some hand movements that imply

some symbols such as lifting one of the fingers of the opposite hands, place softly or pointing softly and etc.

For personal appearance, people tend to find a way of grooming themselves. The traditional Malay greeting

of 'Salam' resembles a handshake with both hands but without the grasp. The man offers both hands, lightly

touches his friend's outstretched hands, and then brings his hands to his chest to mean, " I greet you from my

heart". The visitor should requite the "Salam". "Salam" is not practiced by the rest of the community though,

so a normal handshake will do.

Greeting gestures of Malays

These are gestures of non-verbal communication that Malays would do to emphasize the contents for people to understand.

Greeting gestures of Chinese

Greeting gestures of Indians

Furthermore, most of the Malaysians rely on non-verbal communication which tends to be more subtle,

indirect whereas they do making hints or implying at a point instead of making a direct statement. This allows

the person showing demands and maintaining harmony in their relationship.

Click the link below to understand more about Non-verbal communication :


Non-Verbal Communication