Malaysia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Don’t just see the sights—get to know the people.

Malaysia presents visitors with an exciting and fascinating medley of cultures--Malay, Chinese, Indian, Arab, Eurasian, Dayak, and aboriginal. Though very much a modern nation state, its diverse communities retain a considerable amount of their unique heritage and, in its customs, religions, festivals, costume, cuisine, languages, and architecture, Malaysian society perfectly illustrates the virtues of a vibrant pluralism.

Culture Smart! Malaysia sets out to help you navigate this rich and complex cultural mix. It provides a succinct and straightforward introduction to Malaysian history and society, explains the deeper core values of the different ethnic groups, and guides you through the maze of Malaysian etiquette and behaviour for both social and business settings.

Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

Victor King has a wide interest in the anthropology and sociology of Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, and has conducted research there since the 1970s. His many books include The Best of Borneo Travel. He is Emeritus Professor in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds; Professorial Research Associate in the Centre of South East Asian Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; Adjunct Professor at the Research Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development, Chiang Mai University, Thailand; and Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Asian Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.