Malaysia donts:
- Do not offend, scold or reprimand a Malaysian, neither in public nor privately. This causes major loss of face and damages the relationship beyond repair.
- Do not use the right forefinger to point at places, objects or people. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with four fingers folded under is the preferred usage.
- Do not touch the head of an adult. The head is viewd as the most sacred body port.
- Do not kiss anyone in public-not romantically anyway.
- Do not point the bottom of your feet at anyone.
- Do not offer to shake hands unless you know that your acquaintances are fairly Westernized. Even then, let them offer to shake first. Never shake hands with women unless they offer to do so first.
- Do not bring up the topic of ethnic relations in Malaysia or the political system: they are both sensitive subjects.
- Do not touch touch or hand a monk something. Even accidentally brushing against their robes requires that they fast and perform a cleansing ritual.
- Do not pound your fist into the palm of the other hand is considered an obscene gesture to some people.
