CULTURE
Traditions:
Some Malaysian customs and traditions:
- Whenever you meet an older person or a woman, greet with a slender bow.
- Always use your right hand while eating, passing things on or touching people.
- Avoid public display of anger. So try to take things easy.
- Introduce the ladies first and then move on to introduce men.
- As you enter, leave a place or pass by someone, you should be giving a moderate bow, which gives the expression of "excuse me."
- One should not touch other people’s top portion of the head.
- People in Malaysia are pretty relaxed, so avoid pushing them too much for services.
- Malay people like to eat with their hands, the greatest spoon-and-fork human beings have ever had. The practice is also followed in the restaurants and saves you much time waiting for the cutlery.
- Malays do not appreciate display of affection in public places.
- Touching someone from the opposite sex is also avoidable.
- Always use your right hand while eating, passing things on or touching people.
- Avoid public display of anger. So try to take things easy.
Celebrations:
Malaysians observe a number of holidays and festivities throughout the year. Some holidays are federal gazetted public holidays and some are public holidays observed by individual states. Other festivals are observed by particular ethnic or religion groups, but are not public holidays.
The most celebrated holiday is the
"Hari Kebangsaan" (Independence Day), otherwise known as "Merdeka" (Freedom), on 31 August commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957, while Malaysia Day is only celebrated in the state of Sabah on 16 September to commemorate the formation of Malaysia in 1963. Hari Merdeka, as well as Labour Day (1 May), the King's birthday (first Saturday of June) and some other festivals are federal gazetted public holidays.
Muslims in Malaysia celebrate Muslim holidays. The most celebrated festival, Hari Raya Puasa (also called Hari Raya Aidilfitri) is the Malay translation of Eid al-Fitr. It is generally a festival honoured by the Muslims worldwide marking the end of Ramadan, the fasting month. The sight of the new moon determines the end of Ramadan. This determines the new month, therefore the end of the fasting month. In addition to Hari Raya Puasa, they also celebrate Hari Raya Haji (also called Hari Raya Aidiladha, the translation of Eid ul-Adha), Awal Muharram (Islamic New Year) and Maulidur Rasul (Birthday of the Prophet).
Chinese in Malaysia typically celebrate festivals that are observed by Chinese around the world. Chinese New Year is the most celebrated among the festivals which lasts for fifteen days and ends with Chap Goh Mei. Other festivals celebrated by Chinese are the Qingming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. In addition to traditional Chinese festivals, Buddhists Chinese also celebrate Vesak.
The majority of Indians in Malaysia are Hindus and they celebrate Diwali/Deepavali, the festival of light, while Thaipusam is a celebration which pilgrims from all over the country flock to Batu Caves. Apart from the Hindus, Sikhs celebrate the Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year.
Other festivals such as Good Friday (East Malaysia only), Christmas, Hari Gawai of the Ibans (Dayaks), Pesta Menuai (Pesta Kaamatan) of the Kadazan-Dusuns are also celebrated in Malaysia.
Alcohol:
Although Malaysia is a self-proclaimed Islamic country, alcohol is widely available on licensed outlet, however some states (notably Kelantan and Terengganu) ban alcohol. With the exception of tax-free islands (Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman) and duty free shops (for example in Johor Bahru), prices are comparatively high, with a can of beer costing RM 7.50 or more even in supermarkets or 7 elevens. However, in East Malaysia, smuggled liquors are widely available.
For non muslim legal drinking age in Malaysia in 18.
Sports and Hobbies:
Sports and games in Malaysia is one of the events which have been strengthen the relationship between the multiracial people. Sports and games in Malaysia consisting of various types such as water sports, racing, sports in field, traditional games, racquet sports and is done by people of various age levels.
Until today, sports in Malaysia has become a major activity in the local universities where they often perform an annual sports or recreational activities between universities and colleges merely to inculcate the spirit of cooperation and the spirit to win a competition and meet each other and thus strengthen the relationship between one another.
Most people in Malaysia have their own traditional sports, where it has been passed down from generation to generation. Others represent some of these traditional features in the arts in some nation and the people.
Among the most popular sports in Malaysia such as badminton, bowling, football and squash. Other sports such as swimming, diving, water polo, golf, basketball, baseball, horse racing and rugby. On 1998, Malaysia has become the host of 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Other event that hosted in Malaysia such as Badminton World Federation Malaysia Open, Monsoon Cup & Sukma Games.