Language in Malaysia: A Helpful Guide for Expats | ExpatWoman.com
 

Language in Malaysia: A Helpful Guide for Expats

Discover what languages are spoken in Malaysia, and learn some of the lingo yourself

Posted on

10 December 2015

Last updated on 15 January 2018
Language in Malaysia: A Helpful Guide for Expats

Malaysia is an ethnically diverse melting pot and citizens fall into a number of different groups.  The ethnic Malays and the Chinese and Indian descendants of former immigrants, now, many generations on, are completely assimilated Malaysian citizens.  There are a significant number of ‘Orang Asli’ or indigenous peoples many of whom still live in the Malaysian forests.  In the Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah a very large percentage of the population are indigenous tribal peoples (although many have intermarried with other ethnic groups).


SEE ALSO: What you should pack when moving to Malaysia?


The main language, taught to all children at school, is Bahasa Malay.  A lot of Chinese and Indian children go to vernacular schools and learn their native language there in addition to speaking it in the home.  It is not uncommon for Malay parents to send their children to vernacular primary schools, particularly Chinese schools as the quality of education is perceived to be higher there than in the state primaries.  As such you will sometimes see Malay waiters working in Chinese restaurants and speaking fluent Chinese to the patrons and vice versa.  English is a required subject for all pupils.  Older Malaysians are fluent but the quality of teaching has dropped off in recent decades and there are moves to reverse this.  Generally speaking you will have no problems speaking English with any Malaysian that you meet (although they might get a friend to help them translate complex issues) but if you want to learn and speak Malay or Mandarin people will be very touched. *

*Contributed by Nerissa