Main image via Shutterstock
From our food to our celebrations, Malaysia is truly a nation of diversity. But with that diversity also comes a whole range of shenanigans that although absolutely normal in our country, can annoy people from other cultures.
Here are seven very Malaysian things we do that we should really avoid when travelling overseas…
#1 Talking loudly in public places
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Yup, something as innocent as talking at high volume can be regarded as being inconsiderate in some countries or cultures. Actually, if you think about it, it’s very inconsiderate lah when you talk so loud to a point that other people can’t even hear themselves think.
#2 Not forming a single file line on the escalator
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This is annoying in pretty much every single country you’ll visit. In fact, it’s annoying in our own country. Just remember, it’s good manners to stand in a single file line (either on the left or the right, depending on the country) so there’s space for people who are in a bit of a hurry to pass you.
#3 Going to a restaurant in a group but only order one dish to share
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Just remember that every seat you and your friends or family take up are seats that nobody else can occupy. So, if you only order one dish to share, you’ll not only be taking up space but also depriving the restaurant of other business. Don’t liddat lah, at least order one dish per person.
#4 Being picky
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Look, this isn’t your mother’s kitchen, okay? In fact, even if you’re eating at home, you shouldn’t be picky. In some countries such as Japan, being too picky with your food order (unless you’re allergic to something lah, of course) or not finishing your food can offend the chef. Don’t offend the locals, please.
#5 Eating or drinking in public transportation
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This one is pretty universal lah—even in Malaysia there are signs that remind you not to eat or drink in trains and buses. It’s not that anybody don’t trust your ability to juggle your sirap limau ais and nasi lemak bungkus, it’s just that these are moving, rocking vehicles that can cause you to spill and make a mess. Plus, the smell of food can be distracting.
#6 Taking pictures of people without asking for permission first
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It’s not like you have to ask permission from every single person you see when taking a photograph of say, a famous city landmark. But, if you’re specifically taking a portrait shot of that hot girl or guy you see walking down the street, then be polite and ask for permission first. Not everybody wants to be an Instagram model.
#7 Practicing Malaysian timing
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This is perhaps one of the worst things to do in the airport because you can never compensate for Malaysian timing—sometimes it means you’re 10 minutes late, sometimes it means you’re two hours late. The best thing to do is just to leave Malaysian timing back at home and not be an inconvenience to everybody else onboard your flight.
So, you definitely shouldn’t be all YOLO when it comes to the way you behave in a different part of the world. But, you know what, you can totally YOLO when it comes to browsing the Internet and making domestic or international calls while travelling.
With Digi Postpaid plans, which are now borderless, you get up to 120GB Internet and unlimited calls within Malaysia AND 5GB and 60 minutes call time for overseas use in 10 countries—China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and Myanmar!
With such seamless connectivity, you can connect with friends and family back home and not miss out on all the interesting things happening on the Interweb.