While Malaysians are used to extending a handshake and asking apa khabar? (How are you?), the Tourism Ministry would rather adopt a more gracious form of welcome, by placing the right hand just below the left shoulder and a slight bow.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said this greeting method was initiated in 1999. “I am trying to reintroduce this greeting method because whenever I visit other countries, people ask me why Malaysians don’t have a special greeting like the Thai Sawadika.
“The greeting method was even endorsed by the Cabinet two weeks ago. I only need at least a third of Malaysians to adopt it and others will follow through.”
Dr Ng said she is trying to spread this greeting method through word-of-mouth as well as at tourism clubs in schools.
Many tourism players think that this idea will fail like it did in the past. The Ministry should just focus on issues relating to upgrading of tourism products and not worry about introducing new ways to greet people. Putting your right hand on you left chest is not certainly not in our culture.
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