Malaysia is such a beautiful country, whether you want city life, beaches or nature. There are some dos and don’ts in Malaysia that you may need to be aware of. Even with cities like Kuala Lumpur being so relaxed and full of plenty of things to do in KL and beyond, it still worth remembering that Malaysia’s official religion is Islam. This means that there is still a certain level of conservativeness in the way things are long and how people interact with one another.
Main Facts To Know About Malaysia
- Malaysia’s official language is Bahasa Malaysia(Malay) but you will find English is widely spoken around Malaysia. There are many other ethici groups that will converse in their native languages too.
- The population in Malaysia is close to 30 million people.
- Malaysia’s climate and the weather is warm and sunny all year around with temperatures ranging from 21ºC to 32ºC. With lows never really going below 15ºC.
- Malaysia has been ruled under various colonial powers; from the Portuguese in 1511 to the Dutch in 1641 followed by the British onwards. Then that was Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. After world war two the British resumed control of Malaysia but by then Malaysia was heading towards getting its own independence from colonial powers.
- Malaysia gained independence on 31st August 1957.
- Malaysia follows the metric system in weights and measurements.
- Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time.
10 Dos And Donts In Malaysia
Where ever you happen to be visiting, it is always advisable to follow or respect local customs. This is no different when visiting Malaysia. While this is a mostly relaxed country, its common courtesy to respect the laws and traditional customs of the land like the dos and don’ts below. Whether you are doing 2 days in Kuala Lumpur or doing a 3-week Malaysian itinerary, the do and don’ts in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia are the same for the whole country.
1. Do use your right had to receive and give objects especially when eating. The left hand is considered to be reserved for handling matters of the washroom.
2. Don’t practice public displays of affection or keep it to the bear minimum. Things like kissing, hugging in public are all considered inappropriate behaviour in public.
3. Do remove your shoes when entering homes in Malaysian homes. This is fairly common in most African and Asian countries. It’s a sign of respect.
4. Don’t shake the hand of Muslim women unless it is initiated by them first. This is especially for men. Though handshakes from men to men are common.
5. Do use all four things on either hand when pointing at people, places or objects. It is considered rude to use the forefinger on the right hand to point at people or things.
6. Do dress respectfully and appropriately to avoiding causing offense. Especially when visiting many of the beautiful places of worship in Kula Lumpur and beyond.
7. Do not take pictures of people unless you ask first.
8. No need to give tips in restaurants as service is applied to the receipt as is a government tax.
9. Do not get drunk – while alcohol is served in Malaysia, alcohol is banned in Islam so avoid causing offense by consuming more alcohol than you can handle.
10. Don’t attempt to bring drugs into the country. The law are hash when it comes to punishment as in there is a death penalty drug trafficking. If you are in possession of 200g of Marijuana, this is considered trafficking. Unless you want to do 10 years or even death I would recommend staying away from this. Also make sure you are not bringing in oils derived from Cannabis.
There you have it, dos and donts in Malaysia to help you when are working through a Kuala Lumpur itinerary, Batu Cave, Langkawi and beyond.
So have you been to Malaysia, any other cultural dos and don’ts in Malaysia that you know of that need to be included? Have you been caught up by the things not to do in Malaysia?
Also See
- Our Luxury Stay At Mandarin Oriental In Kuala Lumpur
- Christmas In Kuala Lumpur
- The Best Kuala Lumpur Hotels With Infinity Pools
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