OBM100 Personality Development PDF

OBM100 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT  T3: Malaysian Customs INTRODUCTION TO MALAYSIAN CUSTOMS Malays Non-Malays Major Festivals Table Manners Birth, Funeral & Birthdays Ms Yong @ Syaza Marina Ramli OBM100 – Personality Development...

OBM100 PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT  T3: Malaysian Customs INTRODUCTION TO MALAYSIAN CUSTOMS Malays Non-Malays Major Festivals Table Manners Birth, Funeral & Birthdays Ms Yong @ Syaza Marina Ramli OBM100 – Personality Development +6019 – 379 9309 | [email protected] 2  Introduction to 3 Malaysian Customs Let’s see what ”Malaysian Customs” is all about. 3 CITIZEN OF MALAYSIA Malaysia consists of various ethnic groups – Malay, Chinese and Indian Indigenous people live in the remote areas of Malaysia – Iban, Kadazan, Penan, etc. 4  Major Festivals in Malaysia Islamic Festivals Chinese / Buddhist Hindu Festivals Festivals Christian Festivals Sikh Festivals 5  Islamic Festivals Hari Raya Aidilfitri Marks the end of Ramadan Maulidur Rasul The birthday of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad Honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice Hari Raya Aidiladha his son as an act of obedience to God’s command Nuzul Al-Quran The beginning of the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad Maal Hijrah The Islamic New Year 6  Chinese/Buddhist Festivals Ghosts and spirits, including those of the Hungry Ghost Wesak Birthday of Buddha deceased ancestors come out from the lower Festival realm Chinese families visit the tombs of their Chinese New An occasion for Chinese families to gather for Ching Ming Year Festival ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray to their the annual reunion dinner ancestors, and make ritual offerings Chap Goh Meh Signifying the end of the Chinese New Year Mooncake Mark a successful rebellion against the celebration Festival Mongol rulers 7 Hindu Festivals Deepavali Festival of lights Thaipusam Connected with penance and atonement Ponggol A harvest festival 8 Christian Festivals Christmas Day Annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ Easter Day Celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead 9 Sikh Festivals Birthday of Guru Nanak The religious founder of Sikhism Sikh New Year A spring harvest festival for the Sikhs 10 APPROPRIATE GIFTS DURING FESTIVALS For all occasions, flowers are always welcomed and make a very safe gift For Hari Raya Puasa – non-Muslims can give a small gift to Muslim children such as money For Chinese New Year – non-Married get a “red packet” of money (Ang Pow) from their married relatives and close friends 11  12 Chinese Traditions Malay Indian Traditions Traditions TRADITIONS “ MALAY TRADITIONS Malays from the majority population in Malaysia Malays were known through their generosity and forgiving attitudes Traditional costumes for Malays – Baju kurung/kebaya; baju Melayu 13 Visiting Malay Home Malaysians will take their shoes off before entering a Malay house Malay will appreciate if any foreigners / guests take off their shoes before entering the house Chinese, Indian & Eurasian apply the same tradition 14 Malay Costumes 15  Malay Handshake Younger Malay would likely make the first move to ‘salam’ an older Malay hand The gesture in ‘salam’ is bringing of the hand (one or both) back to the heart or the lower part of the face – the nose and mouth This signifies that your greeting has been accepted with sincerity 16 Do’s & Don’ts in Malay Tradition Foreigners should not touch The kissing of the opposite the head of Malaysian friend sex is not appropriate in without permission Malay tradition When Malay entertain their guests of both sexes, the Malays have always been opposite sexes (men and taught not to open gifts in ladies) are segregated while the presence of the person the younger ones mingle who gives it around 17  Malay Sitting Style Two legs are neatly tucked against your seated body with the feet facing away from guest Bersimpuh Bersila 18 Malay Cuisine 19 CHINESE TRADITIONS The Chinese have been settling in Malaysia for many centuries and form the 2nd largest ethnic group Chinese culture is based on religion (e.g. Buddhist, Taoist, etc.) Chinese costumes – Cheongsam / Samfu 20 Chinese Costumes 21 Chinese Cuisine 22 INDIAN TRADITIONS The Indian community in Malaysia is the smallest of the 3 main ethnic groups Indian immigrants in Malaysia brought with them the Hindu and Sikh cultures Indian costumes – Saree / Punjabi suit / Dhoti 23 Indian Costumes 24 Indian Cuisine 25 Visiting Non-Malay Home Take shoes off before entering the house Handshake between different sexes for non-Muslim is dictated more by our cultural and religion Chinese – handshake is not a common practice (just smile and a nod will do) Indian – greeting done through the ‘palm to palm’ gesture (as in prayer) 26 Do’s & Don’ts in Non-Malay Tradition Kissing between non-Malay is Chinese kneeling for several reasons something that should be left to the – prayer or asking for forgiveness situation 27  28 Eating with Banana Leaf Eating with Eating with Fingers Chopsticks TABLE MANNERS “ EATING WITH FINGERS Malay & Indians traditionally use the fingers for eating Use your left hand Wash your hands Eat with your right to scoop the dishes first hand when using the serving spoon At the end of a Ensure your hand is meal, wash your clean and dry hand again before starting the dessert 29  EATING WITH BANANA LEAF 2 main reasons of eating with banana leaf in Indian customs: Festive occasion (e.g. wedding, birthday, etc.) and if the food is delicious, fold the banana leaf towards you (from top to bottom) Somber occasion (e.g. funeral, etc.) and if the food is less than satisfactory, fold the banana leaf away from you (from bottom to top) 30 EATING WITH CHOPSTICKS While eating, in Chinese culture it is allowed to used the left hand Things to remember when using chopsticks: 1. Bottom of chopstick remain stationary 2. Top of chopstick use to maneuver the food from the plate or bowl to your mouth 31  Guidelines in Using Chopsticks THE DO’S RULES THE DON’TS RULES #1 Sticking #2 Passing food #3 Play with chopsticks chopsticks in rice #1 Hold chopsticks properly #2 Chopsticks holder #4 Stabbing food #5 Pointing with chopsticks #4 Drink soup with chopsticks #3 Pickup rice #6 Sucking chopsticks #7 Washing with soup #8 Stir / pick food 32 Common Embarrassing Situation in Table Manners Slurping the food into Burping at the end of the mouth the meal enthusiastically Put unwanted piece Chewing ice cubes of food on your table 33  34 Birthdays Marriage Births Funerals SPECIAL OCCASION “  MALAY Birth (Confinement) As soon as a baby is born, both mother and child to undergo a period of confinement approximately 44 days Both mother and child cannot leave the house This is the time when the new mother undergoes a rather exhausting programmed where she is put on a special diet and massaged daily to restore her physical state 35  MALAY Ceremonies to Mark Birth Celebrated as a token of thanks, or gratitude towards Allah for His gift of longevity and general good health For this type of birthday celebration, prayers are usually held (kenduri) or food is given to the local mosque 36  MALAY Marriage Hantar Tanda Akad Nikah The statement of intent The solemnisation from the groom’s side Berinai The ceremony where Bersanding henna is painted on the The reception bride’s palms and fingertips 37  MALAY Funeral (Call / Pay Last Respect) If you want to pay your last respects before the body is buried, do as soon as you are told of the death The normal mourning period is 100 days The first three nights, prayers are held at home Next prayers are held on the 7th day, followed by 40th day, and finally the 100th day 38  CHINESE Birth On the 3rd day following the birth – close relatives come to the house to celebrate this event The Full Moon – a child is given a name but if the child turns sickly and weakly, the name will be changed until a proper name is found 39  CHINESE Marriage A marriage is arranged between the two families Civil Marriage Tea Ceremony The young couple is Old Chinese custom registered (legally) as where the newlyweds husband and wife offer tea to the elder Reception/Dinner When everybody celebrates 40  CHINESE Funeral In China, coffin is often kept in the house for several weeks 41  INDIAN Birth (Confinement) This usually lasts from 1 month to 41 days after birth Before a child is given a name (usually 16th day) the baby and the mother are considered ceremonially unclean The first place the mother and child should visit outside the home is temple 42  INDIAN Ceremonies to Mark Birth Some Indian families make sure that the parents going-to-be undergo certain purification rites The first of such purification rites is done on the 4th day of marriage The second, performed a little is to pray for the birth of a son Sons are always hoped for to perform certain rites during the father’s funeral Daughters can prove to be expensive as they have to provide dowries 43  INDIAN Funeral The men of the family take a boat out to the open seas to perform special purification rites to mark this event The ladies must make sure that the house is cleaned before they return When the men come back, they bathe themselves to complete this purification and priest is called to bless the house Widow no longer wear the decorative spot on their forehead The family of the deceased will wear white / light-coloured clothes for the funeral 44 Thanks! Any questions? You can find me at ◉ +6019 – 379 9309 ◉ [email protected] 45