Colours of Malaysia

COLORS OF MALAYSIA

Mohd Hasrul Yushairi Johari | Nur Anisha Najihah Mohd Khairi | Nik Nabihah Nik
Ahmad Faris | Noor Hidayah Ambo Abdul Raoff | Nur Faza Atiqa Faizal

Colors of Malaysia
First published 2022

© 2022 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording or any informationstorage
and retrieval system without permission in writing of the publisher. Requests to the publisher for
permission should be addressed to the Publisher FPHP Tourism Press, Faculty Hotel & Tourism
Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Melaka City Campus, 75300 Melaka, Malaysia or email
to [email protected]

Published in Malaysia
FPHP Tourism Press
Faculty Hotel & Tourism Management
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Kampus Bandaraya Melaka
75300 Melaka

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Mohd. Hasrul Yushairi Johari, 1975-
COLORS OF MALAYSIA / Mohd Hasrul Yushairi Johari, Nur Anisha Najihah
Mohd Khairi, Nik Nabihah Nik Ahmad Faris, Noor Hidayah Ambo Abdul Raoff,
Nur Faza Atiqa Faizal.
Mode of access: Internet
eISBN 978-967-25912-6-9
1. Multiculturalism--Malaysia.

2. Ethnicity--Malaysia.

3. Ethnology--Malaysia.

4. Malaysia--Social life and customs.

5. Electronic books.
I. Nur Anisha Najihah Mohd. Khairi, 1998-.
II. Nik Nabihah Nik Ahmad Faris, 1999-.
III. Noor Hidayah Ambo Abdul Raoff, 1998-.
IV. Nur Faza Atiqa Faizal, 1999-. V. Title.
305.8009595

Layout design: FPHP Tourism Press

Published by:
FPHP Tourism Press

PREFACE

This book is focusing on the three major ethnic
groups in Malaysia, which is Malay, Chinese and
Indian to discuss about their custom and cultures.
Some of the cultures are based on religious
teaching, while the rests are traditional customs of
each ethnic. This book presents the idea of the
complex multicultural understanding in the form
of comparison table for each different ethnic in
Malaysia to indicate some taboos or the dont's. It is
hoped that this book will be a reference for the
tourists who want to have a basic understanding of
Malaysian culture during their visit to this country.

Mohd Hasrul Yushairi Johari
Nur Anisha Najihah Mohd Khairi

Nik Nabihah Nik Ahmad Faris
Noor Hidayah Ambo Abdul Raoff

Nur Faza Atiqa Faizal
29 July 2022

i

TABLE OF CONTENT

Topic Page

1.0 Preface i
2.0 Ethnic in Malaysia 1
3.0 Language 7
4.0 Naming Sytle 11
5.0 Meeting and greeting culture 14
6.0 House of worship 15
7.0 Traditional costume 18
8.0 Marriage culture 25
9.0 Eating culture 28
10.0 Food common in Malaysia 29
11.0 Accepting and giving gift 34
12.0 Home and accommodation culture 36

2.0 ETHNIC IN MALAYSIA

Chinese | Indian | Malay

1

Two old Chinese uncles sharing their wonderful story

Happy chinese customer at restaurant

2

Traditional chinese cake Chinese aunt cooking at
her restaurant

3

4

Indian aunty sewing sari

Indian uncle preparing flower for Gajra (indian flower garland)

5

Chinese street
hawker

Malay men
wearing tanjak

Cute Indian
toddler

6

3.0 LANGUAGE

3.1 MALAY LANGUAGE

Majority Malay people in Malaysia use Malay language in their
daily life. They also communicate with fellow Malays in their
mother tongue language. Other ethics have been using this
language informally with family members, friends and during

discussion with office colleagues. Article 152 of Federal
Constitutions, states that the national language of Malaysia is

Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language).

7

3.0 LANGUAGE

3.2 CHINESE LANGUAGE

Just like Malay language, the Chinese also have multiple dialects that is
practiced in Malaysia. Generally, Mandarin is widely used here because formal
education (primary, secondary and tertiary level) promotes Mandarin classes.

Other dialect such as Cantonese, Hokkien and Hakka are also used by the
Chinese in this country.




8

3.0 LANGUAGE

3.3 INDIAN LANGUAGE

Being the third largest ethnic community in Malaysia, most of
Indians in Malaysia speak Tamil, a language that is officially

taught in primary and secondary school.



9

3.0 LANGUAGE

3.4 ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Despite of the respective mother tongues, Malaysia is very
friendly to the foreign tourists due to the ability of most local
people able to communicate in English. With the privilege of
getting exposure in learning English since they were younger,

Malaysian people, no matter what their ethnic understand
English language.

10

4.0 NAMING STYLE

4.1 MALAY


EXAMPLE
Male
Ahmad bin Muhammad
Female
Aishah

binti Muhammad

11

4.0 NAMING STYLE

4.2 CHINESE


Example
Male

Female
Lee Chong Wei

Lee Fang Yin

12

4.0 NAMING STYLE

4.3 INDIAN


Rajendran Example

Male Nagaratnam


a/l @ s/o
(anak lelaki @

son of)




Female Tanishaa a/p @ d/o Nagaratnam
(anak perempuan

@ daughter of)

13

5.0 MEETING AND GREETINGS CULTURE

Ethnic Malay Chinese Indian

Greet oldest people first when



greeting in a group of people

Speak formally with new people



and address them according to
their appropriate titles (Mr, Mrs,

etc.).

Man shaking hand with men







Woman shaking hand with


women



Men shaking hand with women


Intimate behaviour in public

(Hugging and kissing)

14

6.0 HOUSE O
F WORSHIP
6.1 MOSQUE

Mosque is the praying house for Muslims, which is also known as
Masjid among local people.



Some of the popular mosque like the National Mosque Kuala
Lumpur, can be visited by tourists, as long as decent attire are

being worn.

15

6.0 HOUSE OF WORSHIP

6.2 CHINESE TEMPLE

There are over hundreds of Chinese temples in Malaysia, which is
also known as Kuil Cina among local people.



The temples are unique because each of them symbolize one of
the Chinese religions, or the mixture of two or more religions of
Chinese people. The temples can be visited by tourists as long as

no immoral conduct is done inside the temple.

16

6.0 HOUSE OF WORSHIP

6.3 INDIAN
TEMPLE

Indian temple is mostly known as Kuil Hindu in Malaysia since
most of Indians in Malaysia are practicing Hinduism.



There are many temples that have become the center of
attractions among local and foreign tourists like Batu Caves

Temple and Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple.

17

COSTUME
7.07.T1 IRNADIDAINTOIOUTN
FAITL
(FEMALE)

Sari

18

7.0 TRADITION
AL COSTUME
7.2 INDIAN OUTFIT (MALE)

Dhoti Kurta Pyjama

19

7.0 TRADITIONAL COSTUME

7.3 MALAY OUTFIT (FEMALE)

Kebaya Baju Kurung

20

7.0 TRADITIONAL COSTUME

7.4 MALAY OUTFIT (MALE)

Baju Melayu

21

7.0 TRADITIONAL COSTUME

7.5 MALAY OUTFIT

Tanjak
Sampin

22

23

7.0 TRADITIONAL COSTUME

7.6 CHINESE OUTFIT (FEMALE)

Modern Cheongsam

24

8.0 MARRIAGE CULTURE

Malay Chinese Indian

Akad Nikah A whole-day affair Pre-Wedding
(Solemnization) Offerings Engagement
Red Veil Graha Shanti,
Mehendi and Bangles
ceremony

Majlis Bersanding The Tea Ceremony Actual Wedding Day
(Wedding Reception) Red Umbrella Kannyadan
Loud Noises Tying the “Thali”
Baby Boy on the Bed Worshipping the
Sacred Fire
SaptaPadi – Circling
the Sacred Fire
Ashirvad (blessings)

Majlis Bertandang Throwing the Fan Post Wedding Rituals
(Similar with Majlis Greeting the Groom Prayers
Bersanding but Heng Tai Games
hosted by the Wedding dinner
groom with
selected guests
only).

25

8.1 MALAY WEDDING

Bertunang (Engagement)

Bersanding

26

8.2 INDIAN WEDDING

27

9.0 EATING CULTURE

Ethnic Malay Chinese Indian

Eat using the right hand




Eat using chopstick




Eat using bowl




Eat using plate




Wait everyone to be seated and



served before eating

Chicken dishes




Beef dishes




Pork dishes




28

10.0 COMMON FOODS IN MALAYSIA

Nasi Lemak Mee Curry

Lamb Mango Sticky Rice

29

10.0 COMMON FOO
DS IN MALAYSIA

Hainan Chicken Rice Wanton Noodles

Fried Wanton | Dumpling | Chee Cheong Fun

30

10.0 COMMON FOODS IN MALAYSIA

Muruku Roti Canai

Naan Roti Tampal

31

10.0 COMMON FOODS IN MALAYSIA

Lontong Ketupat

Sate Lemang

32

10.0 COMMON FOODS IN MALAYSIA

Mee Goreng Mamak Nasi Kandar

Laksa Oxtail Soup

33

11.0 ACCEPTING AND GIVING GIFTS

Ethnic Malay Chinese Indian

Gifts giving

Offer gifts with the right
hand

Accept
gifts with right hand

Preferred: Preferred: Preferred:
None

Red, pink or yellow Red, yellow or green
Wrapping
paper colours Avoid mourning
colours:
Avoid: Avoid:
None White, blue, black White or black

Gifts must be Halal (No   Not applied Not
ingredients that   applied

prohibited in Islam)  

34

11.0 ACCEPTING AND GIVING GIFTS

Ethnic Malay Chinese Indian

Gifts must be Halal (No



ingredients that   Not applied Not
applied
prohibited in Islam)
   

Gifts made out of


pigskin

Gift Alcohol




Not necessary
Give gifts in even Not necessary Odd numbers are
numbers unlucky



Not necessary Not necessary
Money should be
given in odd numbers.

35

12.0 HOME AND ACCOMMODATION
CULTURE

Ethnic Malay Chinese Indian

Accepting guests




Barefoot in the house



Shows respect towards the (sometimes)


host/guests



Serve foods and drinks




36

12.0 HOME AND ACCOMMODATION
CULTURE

Ethnic Malay Chinese Indian

Pets (esp . dogs/pigs








Pets (other than dogs and pigs)

Figurines in front, inside and at




the backyard






Animal and human paintings

inside the home

37