Unique Malaysians

Malaysians are a unique people and there are many endearing things about us. Let me share some with you.

No matter what race we belong to, we have some characteristics in common. One of these is our friendliness. It is so easy to strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know. Just smile and the ice is broken. Pretty soon we will be talking as if we are old friends, each having found out about our families, w hat we do, etc., etc. This would be considered as rude and intrusive in western society. I remember as a teacher trainee in the UK, we trainees were told that we should never ask strangers such personal questions. Cultural differences!

The other thing is the way we speak. We have our own lingua franca, or Manglish (Malaysian English) and this is unmistakable. No matter where we are, within Malaysia or abroad, the minute we hear Manglish, we know those people are Malaysians. Another way of putting it is Mangled English. Only Malaysians ( and perhaps Singaporeans ) can understand it. Others will not be able to make sense of it.

“Go stun, go stun, somemore, somemore..ok stop lah.” This is what you can hear when someone is giving instructions reversing a car. “Go stun” is to go backwards, or to reverse.
“Where got like that one?” Read “ How can it be?”
“You don’t know, meh?” Read “Don’t you know?”
“ Aiyah, can die one!” Read “ Oh dear, this is bad.”
“Wah, so nice. Can eat or not?” Read “ Wow, so delicious. Can I have some?”
“ Eh, long time no see! So stylo mylo now lah.” Read “ Hi, haven’t seen you for a long time. You’re very stylish.”
“ Your friend got come or not? Still wanna wait, ah?” “Read “ Has your friend come? Do you still want to wait?”

This is how Malaysians speak when they meet. However they readily change register when in formal situations. They will speak correctly. However, we feel very comfortable and at home with Manglish when we are with friends and family.
Another thing peculiar to us is that we always ask “ Have you eaten?” whenever we see our friends or elders. We don’t say “How are you?” Food is a very important part of our lives.

Malaysians will never want to be anything else.
It’s great being Malaysian.