Culture

Ethnicities

Malaysia is comprised of three main ethnic groups:

• Malay - 55% Austronesian ethnic group native to Malaysian peninsula and surrounding archipelago, last rulers of the land prior to colonization. Majority muslim and speaks Malay.
• Chinese - 23% the Chinese have been settling in Malaysia for many centuries, as seen in the emergence of the Peranakan culture, but the exodus peaked during the nineteenth century through trading and tin mining. When they first arrived, the Chinese often worked the most grueling jobs like tin mining and railway construction. Most Chinese are Tao Buddhist and retain strong cultural ties to their ancestral homeland. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Hakka, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Teochew.
• Indians - 7% During the British colonial rule, Indian labourers, who were mostly south Indian Tamils from Tamil Nadu and to a lesser extent others in South India, were brought to Malaya to work on sugarcane and coffee plantations, rubber and oil palm estates, construction of buildings, railways, roads and bridges. English-educated Ceylon Tamils from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Malayalees (from Kerala) were brought in to handle white-collar jobs. Languages spoken: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi.

Other minority groups can fall under category of Bumiputera "son of the land", to include indigenous peoples, ethnic Thai, Khmer, Cham, and Portuguese Kristang (descendants).

Religion

Malaysia has a secular government with Islam as the official religion. As a diverse and multicultural country, it is also one of the countries with high religious diversity according to Pew's Global Religious Diversity Index.

According to 2010 census:

• 61.3% Muslim (Sunni)
• 19.8% Buddhist
• 9.2% Christian
• 6.3% Hindu
• 3.4% folk Chinese religion
• Others: folk religion, Sikhism, Baha'i, atheists

In terms of clothing, Asia tends to be more conservative in general, with the exception of large metropolitan cities. When visiting sacred sites or house of worship, you will be asked to wear modest attire. At certain touristy temples or mosques, pants/skirts/robes will be made available for borrowing/rental. Also broad generalization but Asia tends to have more superstitious folks too.

Islam

• Call to prayer is sung via mosque loudspeaker five times a day, every day, at dawn, noonish, afternoonish, sunset, and dusk.
• While not required by law, it is common for Muslim women to wear head coverings, locally known as "tudung" (cover), or also called scarf, hijab or shawls. A minority of women wear the face veil called the niqab. Public servants and officials are not allowed to wear the veil by law.
• Shaking hands between men and women: Varies between person to person. No right or wrong. If you extend your hand and they don't reciprocate (sometimes they put their hand to the left side of the chest), just retract your hand and move on.
• Malaysia has a dual court system. Muslims are obligated to follow shariah law for civil, non-criminal matters (marriage, divorce, inheritance, personal conduct).
• Muslims are forbidden from consuming alcohol or pork.

Handshakes (in general, and other personal space norms)

• Business handshake, extend right hand as usual.
• Greetings handshake, use both hands to clasp each other's right hand, followed by touching your (own) chest or heart.
• Women (towards other women) sometimes will pull you in for the cheek to cheek kiss during the handshake. Three times. Start with left, right, left.
• Men do not.
• Do not be alarmed by some elderly people who cut in line and pretend not to see you or hear you.

Toilets

• Wet toilets are common in homes, with a hand bidet or a bucket.
• Unless you're at Hilton, Marriott or higher, the toilet paper grade is C+. There is no Charmin at the supermarket.
• Public toilets are hit or miss. Pro tip, if you're at a mall, sometimes they have posh/luxury side with pay toilets that are nicer. Carry change.
• Pay toilets are nicer than free ones. Or pay for hand towelettes.

Buying and Money

• Local currency is Malaysian Ringgit (RING-GATE) or RM
• USD$1 = RM4.2
• Do not exchange local currency at the airport
• The best money changers are at the shopping malls. Notably Midvalley Mall or KLCC.
• If your bank does not charge foreign transaction fees, it is better to withdraw local currency from a local ATM. Normal withdrawal fees are RM1 (or $0.25)
• Expect to pay western prices for western meals/services. A dish at the hotel restaurant may cost about US$15 when local dish at local restaurant may cost RM15.
• You can haggle at the markets and in the streets but not in the high street shops. Craft and souvenir markets are charging 400% markup. If you are white/foreigner. Haggle or try.

Food

See food section