If a Malaysian extends his business card, receive it using your thumb and index finger of both hands, and similarly when presenting your own card. The same would apply to the giving and receiving of money. It is considered bad manners to receive or give things with your left hand, as traditionally this hand is used for hygienic purposes.
NAMES
It is interesting to note that Malays don't actually have surnames or family names. Instead, they adopt their fathers first name. For example Salleh bin Ahmad literally translated will means Salleh son of Ahmad. On all occasions he should be called Salleh and never Ahmad. The female version will be binti or daughter of. Adding a prefix or title to this name can be rather tricky. The title Encik (Mr) is for formal introduction while Pak Cik (uncle) is for a much older man. Similarly, Indians do not use their family name, but their fathers first name. An example would be Muthu son of Raja, denoted by the s/o (or d/o for daughter of). The Chinese do have family names, which are placed before their first names. For example, Mr. Ah Fatt from the Tan family would be named as Tan Ah Fatt. If Mr. Tan is a Christian, his Christian name will be placed before his surname. All male Sikhs have the name Singh whilst the females adopt the name Kaur.
TITLES
Many members of society have been conferred titles by any one of Malaysia Sultans, such as a Datuk (Datin for women) or a Tan Sri. To be conferred a Tun is the highest honour possible. This is equivalent to being knighted by the Queen. Muslim men and women who have performed their pilgrimage to Mecca would be titled Haji or Hajjah, respectively. In normal conversations these people are referred to as Haji,Hajjah, Datuk, Tan Sri or Tun.
GETTING AROUND
Bicycles are a great way to move around either in campus or town.These are cheap and easy to store. If you wish to drive a motorbike or a car, you should check with the local transport department known as Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (or JPJ) whether your license is valid for this country.
Taxis can be hailed along the street or you can find them queuing at major hotels. Short trips around town may cost you around RM5 or more. Currently, local taxis do not use tariff meters, so please check and agree to the charge for your specific destination. A taxi counter is available at the Kuching Airport where you can purchase a trip-coupon before queuing up for a taxi.
Buses are cheap and are a great way to see the town if you're not worried about creature comforts. Routes can be complicated for the uninitiated so ask the bus conductor if it's the right bus before you get on. Check out our complimentary city maps to find the main bus stations in each town. Fares start from as low as 40 cents. Comfortable intercity air-conditioned buses are available for long day or night trips across the state and to neighbouring Kalimantan,Indonesia.
Boats powered either by long twin oars or small engines are a convenient and nostalgic transport for crossing the Sarawak River. These boats with their curved roofing can be seen at piers on the Kuching Waterfront. In the absence of modern bridges, ferries still serve to carry automobiles across rivers.Intercity Express Boat services are also available.
Small airplanes (twin otters or sky vans) or helicopters are suitable for long trips across Sarawak. These may be quite expensive but since they fly rather low, you get to see the greenery and coastline of the state.
TOUCHING/GESTURING
It is not common for Malaysians to touch during conversations, especially if the other party is a member of the opposite sex. Malaysians consider it exceptionally rude to pat or tap someone on the head. If one needs to point , it would be polite to gesture with your thumb instead of your index finger. Similarly, when summoning a person, it is more preferable if one did so using all of four fingers on an upturned palm as opposed to a crooked finger.
GIFTS
When attempting to purchase gifts for Malaysians, in order not to offend, it is worthwhile to note the following taboos for each of the races. Malays being Muslims would find any gift containing pork, alcohol, dog or anything that is related with these connotations as extremely offensive. The Chinese believe clocks, straw sandals, sharp objects and handkerchiefs are bad luck and should never be offered. Should the gift comprise many little gifts, the total number given should be even, this being a sign of happiness. However, the number four (4) symbolizes death and should be avoided at all costs. Red is always a good colour as the Chinese believe it ushers good luck. Indians, being Hindus, do not eat beef. Hence anything with cow connotations should not be given to them. Unlike the Chinese, Indians consider odd numbers to bring good luck.
LANGUAGE, FOOD AND CLOTHING
Bahasa Malaysia or Malay is the official language of the country. Apart from this, Malay has several local dialects depending on the different States within Malaysia. Since Malaysia is such a multiracial country, various other languages are spoken such as Chinese, Tamil, Iban and Kadazan. English, the second language is taught in schools and is used widely across the nation. Sarawak has a large variety of local ethnic groups such as Iban, Bidayuh and Melanau - each with their own language. Other indigenous groups are called Orang Ulu which literally means 'Upriver People' who live deep in the intriguing Sarawak forests. Totaling about 27 groups, the Kayan, Kenyah, Penan, Lun Bawang and Kelabit are among the main groups.
Cheap, abundant, diverse and tasty - that describes the food in Sarawak. The streets are filled with coffee shops, restaurants, hawker centres and food peddlers. In hawker centres and other more casual places, order from the stall of your choice and tell them where your table is. You pay when the food is delivered to you. At coffee shops you pay when you're ready to leave. Normal rules apply in restaurants. As a general rule of thumb, if there are lots of people then the food is probably good although there are peak hours for eating out as well! Just remember to say "jangan pedas sangat" or "kurangkan pedas" if you have a sensitive tummy and are unable to take spicy food. If you like it hot, just say you want it to be "pedas".
Visitors should bring light comfortable clothes. Light clothing is best suited for Malaysia's equatorial climate. A jacket and tie or evening dress may be required for formal wear, but only in an air-conditioned venue. Take note that the university has its own dress code that needs to be observed by all students especially during lectures, at the library and when dealing with academic matters during office hours. Shorts and bermudas may suit a stroll on the beach or for sports related activities, but are best avoided if you are invited to visit your local friends home.
