In the spirit of Celebrating Malaysian-ness we highly value helping people from different races connect and build friendship. With Bulan Puasa underway and Hari Raya coming up soon, here’s a few simple tips on how can you ambil hati orang Melayu.
Be Respectful
Whether in a formal or informal setting it’s always smart to address people politely. Take the initiative to greet those older than yourself. Depending on the age and your relationship with them, you can use the terms ‘Pak cik’, ‘Mak cik’, ‘Bang‘ or ‘Kak‘, which carry a sense of familiarity. Greet your friends with the Malay handshake ‘Salam’. If you Salam and even teach your kids to Salam their elders it will go a long way in showing honour to your Malay friends.
Be Interested
You may probably already know a lot about the Malay culture along with their traditions and celebrations, but there may be some other practices that have slipped through the cracks. Being curious and asking questions to learn about them is always a good idea. It’s amazing how people light up when they are asked to share about what they care about.
Be Appropriate
If you’re invited to buka puasa or to visit for Raya, make sure to wear appropriate clothes and bring buah tangan. Also, simply speaking Malay can show your willingness to connect through their culture.
Be Hungry
No Malaysian needs to be told to enjoy food. Many have probably been enjoying the many Ramadan bazaars whether Muslim or not. Remember, the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach (or your’s!). Showing your Malay friends that you enjoy their food, especially during this time of year, is an easy way to show you also enjoy their friendship.
Simply put, find out what your Malay friends value and show that you value the same. That’s the sure way to ambil hati Melayu. And remember, your Malay friends know you’re not Malay, so it’s all the more special to them that you try so hard!
So what do you think of our list? Would you add anything?