Doing business in Malaysia

When doing business abroad, it’s important to take cultural differences into account. In other parts of the world, culture and, in particular, business culture, can be significantly different to what we are used to. It is therefore sensible to know beforehand what those differences may be. The experts at our translation agency have therefore compiled some tips about the business culture in this country.

Malaysian society

The Malaysian population is made up of various ethnic groups. Native Malaysians, called Malays or Bumiputras, make up the largest group. Most positions in government and state companies are filled by members of this group. Malays are Muslim, so it is sensible to take that into account and not offer alcohol as a gift.
In the business world, you will often also come across Malaysians who have a Chinese background. You will notice that they are generally more direct than Malays and that they will get to the point faster. The same applies to Indian business people. Indians make up the smallest ethnic group in the population.

Business meetings

People generally observe largely unwritten rules about clothing in Malaysia. For men, it is common to wear a light, plain shirt with long sleeves and a tie, usually with a jacket. Make sure that you don’t go to a business meeting in short sleeves in any case.
A business meeting is usually also accompanied by food. When planning a meeting, put aside a lot of time and be prepared for a long overrun. Also make sure that you present and receive business cards with two hands. Gifts are not customary unless you are invited to someone’s home.