Malaysia: Appointment Alert!

From ExecutivePlanet.com

Holidays & Working Hours in Malaysia

Government Offices

1. All government offices operate on a 5-day week. In all states, except Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, offices are open from Mondays to Fridays and are closed during the weekend.

2. Government offices in the states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu operate from Sundays to Thursdays. They are closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

3. If a public holiday (for festivals and special occasions) falls on a non-working day, the following day will be declared a holiday.

4. The working hours for government offices are as follows:

    Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya:     8.00am to 5.30pm, Monday - Friday
    In Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu:     8.00am to 4.45pm (from Sunday - Wednesday), 8.00am to 4.30pm (on Thursdays). 
    In all other states:     8.00am to 5.00pm (Monday – Friday)

5. There is a long lunch break on Fridays (12.15pm – 2.45pm) to allow the Muslims to perform their prayers.

Money Matters

Travellers are advised to bring a combination of traveller’s cheques, cash and credit cards. Credit cards are widely used in larger shopping establishments and hotels. Smaller establishments accept transactions in cash only. Those embarking on an island trip are advised to make prior financial arrangements on the mainland. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, airports and money changers around the country.

Banking

All states except Kedah. Kelantan and Terengganu opening hours are as follows:

    Mondays to Thursdays:     9:15am – 4:30pm
    Fridays:     9:15am – 4:00pm
    Saturdays:     11:00am - 2:00pm (major branches only)
    Sundays:     Closed

Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu opening hours are as follows;

    Sundays to Wednesdays:     9:15am – 4:30pm
    Thursdays:     9:15am - 4:00pm
    Fridays:     Closed

Most banks are closed on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. Visitors are advised to obtain further information on local banking hours upon arriving at their destinations.

Vacation Times

Malaysians do not have any specific vacation times as we are a non-seasonal country. The only vacations we have are during general Public holidays and also festive seasons, for example Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and also Christmas. Weekends are usually non-working days, depending on the company’s policy.

Appointments

Appointments are usually made after lunch hours or in the mornings. Mondays and Fridays are not really that suitable for appointment making as Mondays will usually be the Conference day and Fridays are the Muslim prayer day. Observe protocol and decorum when arranging an appointment, and allow enough time for business counterparts to prepare for the meeting. A meeting request should clearly state the reason for the meeting, who is to attend, and a recommended date, time and venue. Allow extra time to attend appointments in Asia as traffic congestion and other difficulties can play havoc with schedules. Good first impressions in business settings start with the following:

Be punctual.

Dress conservatively.

When introduced, approach to a comfortable distance.

Look the client in the eye.

Offer a firm handshake, lasting about three seconds.

Smile.