BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

A
REPORT ON
CROSS CULTURE COMMUNICATION
IN MALAYSIA

Submitted To: Mrs. Richa Agarwal

Submitted By: Milan Patel (MBA 2014-16)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to
Mrs. Richa Agrawal who gave me this opportunity to study the concept of
CROSS CULTURE COMMUNICATION in the module of BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION at AURO UNIVERSITY, SURAT
The project work has helped me to learn about different cultural etiquettes
about Malaysia.
Lastly, I would like to thank all those who have helped me throughout the
project.

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TABLE OF CONTENT:
Sr. No

Particulars

Page No:

About Malaysia

04

Religion

06

Government

08

Cultural Etiquettes

10

Business Etiquettes

12

Dinning and Table Etiquettes

16

Conclusion

17

References

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ABOUT MALAYSIA:

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Malaysia is a federal state that has a monarchy system of governance. It is

comprised of 13 large states and 3 different federal territories. Its area is about
329,847 square kilometers. The Malaysian land is divided into two parts, namely
Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.
The current population of Malaysia in total is 30,267,367, a slight increase from
2013s estimate of 29,791,949. Of this number, 50.7% (or 15,345,555) is the male
population, and the remaining 49.3% (which is 14,921,811) is female population.
Last year, the number of births taking place in Malaysia is 330,910 while deaths
are recorded at 77,390.

Facts and Statistics

Location: Southeastern Asia. Shares borders with Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore
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and Brunei.
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to
February) monsoons
Population: 24,821,286 (July 2007 EST.)
Ethnic Make-up: Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%,
others 7.8%

RELIGION:

Nearly all the world religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and
Christianity are present in Malaysia. Religion correlates strongly with ethnicity,
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with most Muslims Malay, most Hindus Indian, and most Buddhists Chinese. The
presence of such diversity heightens the importance of religious identity, and most
Malaysians have a strong sense of how their religious practice differs from that of
others (therefore a Malaysian Christian also identifies as a non-Muslim). Religious
holidays, especially those celebrated with open houses, further blend the
interreligious experience of the population. Tension between religious communities
is modest. The government is most concerned with the practices of the Muslim
majority, since Islam is the official religion (60 percent of the population is
Muslim). Debates form most often over the government's role in religious life,
such as whether the state should further promote Islam and Muslim practices
(limits on gambling, pork-rearing, availability of alcohol, and the use of state funds
for building mosques) or whether greater religious expression for non-Muslims
should be allowed.

MALAYS:
Today, the Malays, Malaysia's largest ethnic group, make up more than 50%
of the population, although this drops to less than 25% in East Malaysia. In
Malaysia, the term Malay refers to a person who practices Islam and Malay
traditions, speaks the Malay language and whose ancestors are Malays.

CHINESE:

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The second largest ethnic group, the Malaysian Chinese form about 25% of
the population. Mostly descendants of Chinese immigrants during the 19th
century, the Chinese are known for their diligence and keen business sense.
INDIAN:
The smallest of three main ethnic groups, the Malaysian Indians form about
10% of the population. Most are descendants of Tamil-speaking South
Indian immigrants who came to the country during the British colonial rule.

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Political or Government:

Government: constitutional monarchy

Malaysia's government is nominally headed by the king whose position rotates

among the nine hereditary Malay rulers every five years. The king selects the
prime minister from the leading coalition in parliament, a body which is further

Beginning in the 1970s, the government has attempted to increase the number of
Malays living in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur.
Divided into the elected representatives of the Dewan Rakyat and the appointed
senators of the Dewan Negara. Since independence Malaysian national elections
have been won by a coalition of ethnic-based political parties. Known first as the
Alliance, and, following the 1969 unrest, as the National Front, this coalition is
itself dominated by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), a party
composed

of

Malay

moderates.

the gerrymandered parliamentary

districts

UMNO
that

rule

is

over-represent

aided
rural

by
Malay

constituencies. The UMNO president has always become Malaysia's prime

minister, so the two thousand delegates at the biannual UMNO General Assembly
are the real electoral force in the country, choosing the party leadership that in turn
leads the country.

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Malaysian political leaders demand a great deal of deference from the public. The
Malay term for government, kerajaan, refers to the raja who ruled from the
precolonial courts. High-ranking politicians are referred to as yang berhormat (he
who is honored), and sustain remarkable resiliency in office. Their longevity is due
to the fact that successful politicians are great patrons, with considerable influence
over the allocation of social benefits such as scholarships, tenders, and permits.
Clients, in return, show deference and give appropriate electoral support. The
mainstream press are also among the most consistent and most important boosters
of the ruling coalition's politicians. Even with the substantial power of the political
elite, corruption remains informal, and one can negotiate the lower levels of the
state bureaucracy without paying bribes. However, endless stories circulate of how
appropriate payments can oil a sometimes creaky process.

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CULTURE ETIQUETTES:
Despite the obvious openness to influences from around the globe, and the urbanity
of Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kuching, society in Malaysia remains fairly
conservative and conformist. Behavior that departs from established cultural and
behavioral norms basically, anything that draws attention to the individuals
concerned is avoided.
Though allowances are made for foreigners, until you acquire some familiarity
with where the limits lie, its best to err on the side of caution. Get the balance right
and youll find locals helpful and welcoming, while respectful of your need for
some privacy.

Dress:
For both men and women, exposing lots of bare flesh is generally a no-no, and the
degree to which you should cover up can seem surprisingly prim. Islamic tradition
suffuses the dress code for locals, Muslim or otherwise, and dictates that both men
and women should keep torsos covered; shirt sleeves, if short, should come down
to the elbow (for women, long-sleeved tops are preferable), while shorts or skirts
should extend down to the knee (long trousers are ideal). Figure-hugging clothes
are often frowned upon, particularly for women.
Dress codes are more liberal in most cities, on the beach, and when pursuing
sporting activities, but its surprising how often the minimum standards mentioned
above are complied with. Also, remember that in Muslim tradition, the soles of
shoes are considered unclean, having been in contact with the dirt of the street.
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Thus before entering any home (Muslim or otherwise), its almost universal
practice to remove footwear at the threshold or before stepping onto any carpeted
or matted area.

DISCRETION AND BODY LANGUAGE:

Two things to avoid in this moderately conservative, Muslim region are public
shows of affection (holding hands is OK, kissing is not) and drinking alcohol
outside designated bars or clubs even in resort areas frequented by foreigners. In
a situation where you need to make a complaint, the most effective approach is not
to raise your voice but to go out of your way to be reasonable while stating your
case.
As for body language, note that touching someones head, be they Muslim or
otherwise, must be avoided, as the head is considered sacred in Eastern culture.
Handshakes are fairly commonplace when meeting someone; Muslims often
follow this by touching the palm of the right hand to their own chest. Some
Muslims may be reluctant to shake hands with the opposite sex; however, in this
case a smile, nod and that same right-hand-palm gesture will suffice. Muslims and
Indians also avoid using their left hand for human contact or eating, while polite
Chinese wait staff or shop owners might hand over your change with both hands.

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BUSINESS ETIQUETTE:
Malaysia is a highly multicultural country and you will probably make business
not only with Malaysians but also with Chinese and Indians. They all have
different rules of conduct and what might be seen as appropriate by one group can
be considered as offensive by the other.

HANDSHAKES:
The different rules for different ethnical groups already apply to handshakes. As
Malaysia is a Muslim country, physical touch between sexes might be seen us
inappropriate. Malay women do not necessarily shake hand with men. To be on the
safe side, wait for the woman to reach out her hand first. Only then is it appropriate
to shake it. If the woman does not extend her hand, only bow slightly with your
hand placed over the position of your heart to demonstrate respect.
When you shake hands with Chinese business partners, it is appropriate to shake
hands with a woman, but wait for her to reach out her hand first. As for men, shake
the hands only lightly but prolonged.
When being introduced to Indian business partners a nod and a smile might be
sufficient, but shaking hands is allowed.

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DRESS ETIQUETTE:
Men should wear a suit, with dark pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a tie. Women
have slightly more freedom regarding their dress etiquette. They can wear skirts,
trousers or a traditional dress. Revealing clothes are inappropriate. Garments, fully
covering a woman's body, or headscarfes are very common.

BUSINESS MEETINGS:
When making appointments for a business meeting, avoid scheduling them to a
Friday, as this day is reserved for Muslims to pray. Arrive in time for a meeting but
be prepared to wait. Malays and Indians usually have a relaxed attitude to time
while Chinese are normally punctual. This means for you: be punctual.
When having a first meeting with a party do not expect business decisions to be
made. Initial meetings are usually used for building rapport as business
relationships are based on familiarity and trust. They are always started with small
talk. Personal questions are not very adequate but questions on hobbies or interests,
sometimes also on family, are fine.
Malaysian culture, and this refers to business culture as well, is very hierarchical so
make sure to treat persons of senior ranks with great respect.

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When communicating be very polite. Under no circumstances should you show

anger in public as this is considered very rude. Also, never criticize and embarrass
a colleague in front of a group. Do not say no, rather use forms such as I will
try.
It shows good manners if you take a moment of silence before answering a
question as this demonstrates that you are giving the question the appropriate
consideration.
When entering a Malaysian home, always take your shoes off. Only use the right
hand for eating or touching another person as the left hand is regarded unclean.
Business presents are not very common, but in some cases where you might have
to make a gift pay attention to the Muslim rules. Do not give alcohol, pork meat or
something made of pigskin.

NAMES AND TITLES

As a general rule, address persons by their title and their surname as using first
names is not very common. Many Malaysians, however, do not have surnames.
They often use their father's name adding it to their surname with the term bin
meaning son of. The term applying to women is binti. In cases where the
surname is missing you can use the first name together with a Mr. or Mrs.
The same rule applies to Indians therefore use their first name together with a
Mr. or Mrs. or the respective title.
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Address Chinese business partners with their title and their surname or simply with
Mr. and Mrs.

Some Malaysians have been conferred a title by the government. These are usually
Tun, Tan Sri, Dato and Datuk. If you know the title, use it!

BUSINESS CARDS:
Business cards are usually first given out by the visiting party. When receiving or
presenting a card, hold it with both hands. Hand your card facing your name
upwards and when receiving it make sure you study it briefly before putting it
away into your pocket or placing it in front of you on the table. Have your card
translated into Malay or if you are meeting Chinese partners, translate it into
Chinese as well.

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Dinning and Table etiquette

Culture is learned and shared and influences even the simplest aspects of our lives. When
conducting business in Malaysia it is vital that you offer any potential business partners some
entertainment as a sign of respect, which usually comes in the form of a pleasant dining
experience! Of course, when trying to impress potential business partners it is essential that you
follow the correct meal-time etiquette so as to avoid offending them or coming across as
ignorant! Whether youre invited into someones home or are meeting at a restaurant it is
important to make sure you are on time. Be sure that when you are traveling you find
accommodations that are in convenient locations.
There are some rules which you should always follow if you are invited to a Malay house for a
meal. As you arrive at their home, wish them well and take off shoes prior to entering the home.
It is also good idea to bring some little present for the host- and this must be offered to them with
your right hand!
According to Malay culture, you will be presented with all dishes at one time. You will want to
clean your hands prior eating and should only take food with your right hand. When picking up
food, your fingers should be horizontal, not vertical!
A tiny bowl of water will be placed on the table for you to clean your fingers with. While dinner
is served to you, wait for the host or hostess to formally welcome you before you begin eating.
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The indication used will most likely be Silalah Makan or Jemputlah Makan which means
please eat.
The basic dish is rice and you will be served four or five other dishes on the side. In Malay
culture, every grain of rice is highly and hence you should clear the plate. You must be careful to
take an acceptable amount of rice: neither too much nor too little!
If there are two guests on the dining table, the younger one should let the elder one eat first!
Shells, bones and others should be placed on the plate offered by you by your host. There is also
certain Malay who use the western ways at dining table.

CONCLUSION:

This age of globalization and information technology has entirely changed the face of
governments, business and organizations. People are not confined to the geographical walls of
their own nation anymore, but have to become a part of international network.

Communication being the backbone of inter and intra organization coordination, it is essential
for people to comprehend the linguistic and cultural differences among organization to get the
desired results at the workplace.
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Globalization has increased the impact of learning different cross border cultural, language and
etiquette for better communication between two countries.

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REFERENCES:
READ MORE:

http://www.justlanded.com/english/Malaysia/Malaysia-Guide/Business/Businessetiquette
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/malaysia/cultureetiquette/#ixzz3DlVG8ehs
http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Malaysia.html#ixzz3DlS2kPtL
http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Malaysia.html#ixzz3DlB1udSo
http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/malaysia-population/

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