LAWS, MORAL, ETHIC AND ETIQUETTE IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia is a unique country that has multiracial society made up of three major races,
the Malays and the Indigenous People, the Chinese and the Indians. There are also minor races
such as the Singh and Baba Nyonya. Sabah and Sarawak have the most races such as Iban,
Murut, Kadazans, Bidayuh and many more. They are helping and tolerance between other races.
They are also respecting to each others religion and they got their freedom to practice their
religion. All of these races are living peace and harmony according to the laws, moral, ethical
and etiquette in Malaysia that have been established a long time ago. Up until now, Federal
Constitutions have been used as Malaysias highest legal authority of land.

There are a lot of events were occurred before Federal Constitutions were made. It is
started about six hundred years ago when Malacca became a successful country trader. Amid the
domain of the Sultanate, Melaka was an essential exchanging port and the upkeep of peace was
critical to its success. The organization of equity was set under the immediate charge of the
bendahara (or boss clergyman) that practiced both political and legal capacities. The temenggung
(which is the leader of troops and police) was in charge of securing offenders, keeping up prison
and for the most part keeping the peace. The welfare of nonnatives residents in the state was
cared for by a few shahbandars (harbor experts and authorities of traditions). Only few of it
about the lawful framework back then yet it is for the most part acknowledged that the law
controlled then was a blend of Muslim law and the "Adat Temenggung" (patriarchal Malay
standard law). The "Adat Temengung" was the law of the Sultan or the law appointed by the
rulers and later embraced in alternate districts of Peninsular Malaysia. It was the idea of the law
as found in Malay legal digests compiled between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. The
formal lawful content of customary Melaka comprised of the Undang-Undang Melaka (Laws of
Melaka), otherwise referred to as the Hukum Kanun Melaka and Risalat Hukum Kanun, and also
the Undang-Undang Laut Melaka (the Maritime Laws of Melaka). The laws as written in the
lawful condensations experienced a developmental procedure. The legitimate laws that in the
long run advanced were formed by three principle impacts, to be specific the early non-
indigenous Hindu/Buddhist convention, Islam and the indigenous "adat".
 Then, after the British influence and was about to give independence to Malaysia, they
asked to draft the constitution as a first step to form a new government. The premise of the
Federal Constitution of Malaysia is the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya. Taking after the
Alliance's big victory in the primary Federal Election in 1955, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra was
selected Chief Minister. The drafting of the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya was the
initial move toward the arrangement of another administration after Britain consented to yield
autonomy to Malaya in 1956.For the assignment of drafting the Constitution, the British
Government formed a Working Committee involving delegates from their side, guides from the
Conference of Rulers and Malayan political pioneers. In January 1956 the Tunku headed an
appointment to London to talk about the Federal Constitution and arrange the date for autonomy
of Malaya. In March 1956 a Commission led by Lord Reid was set up to figure a draft and refine
the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya. The Commission looked for the perspectives of
political gatherings, non-political associations and people on the type of government and racial
structure fitting for this nation. In the meeting procedure, a reminder from the Alliance had
picked up priority. The memorandum, an inter-communal conciliation aimed at mutual interests
and strengthening the nation's democratic system of government, took into account five main
factors namely the position of the Malay Rulers, Islam as the official religion of the Federation,
position of the Malay language, the special rights of the Malays and equal citizenship. The draft
drawn up by the Reid Commission was approved by the Working Committee as the Constitution
of the Federation of Malaya starting on the date of the country's freedom on August 31, 1957.
Whenever Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya in 1963, a few arrangements in the Constitution
were altered and the nation's name was changed to Malaysia.[1]

Law is a code of conduct that the authority in power prescribes for society. It primarily
differs from ethics in its option to use force if and once necessary and by the actual fact that it's
backed by power. Laws are, by and massive, truthful and moral but it's difficult to simply settle
for that laws are the foundations of ethics, or even that laws can guarantee ethical behavior.
Ethics may be a set of standards, or a code, or worth system, discovered from human reason and
knowledge, by that free human actions area unit determined as ultimately right or wrong,
sensible or evil. If acting agrees with these standards, it's moral, otherwise unethical.[2]
 There are many situations in life, where just following the law does not make one ethical.
For example, Muthu is a businessperson. As draught is coming, he purchases and stores many
boxes of packaged mineral water from the close by town. Muthu offers many them with the cost
practically multiplied from the past cost. By being an opportunist, he has dismissed his good and
individual qualities to acquire benefit in this troublesome time by disregarding the sufferings
confronted by the general population in his neighborhood. Another aspect of the legal system is
that it prohibits us of certain actions. It also spells out the negative consequences of our not
following the law that is legal punishment. However, ethical behaviour encourages us to do
certain things and explains the benefits, i.e., the positive aspects of these ethical behaviour. For
example, the law tells us not to steal, not to kill, but ethics tells us to do good, speak the truth,
help others in distress. Thus there is a positive aspect inherent in ethical behaviour, whereas the
law is more concerned about negative behaviour.

However another part of the law is that morals go before the activity, the law tails it.
Morals reveals to us what we ought to endeavor to create in ourselves (high good norms), then
again, law has a tendency to be more worried with the outcomes of the negative activity what
discipline would take after, who is liable and in what manner should equity be finished. Also, the
law is an all-around acknowledged, distributed report, though morals do be not yet have a
generally acknowledged, predictable and distributed idea. It is unique, culture particular and left
to the person for understanding and activity. A few laws have nothing to do with profound
quality since they don't include genuine matters. These incorporate stopping laws, clothing
regulations and different laws covering comparative matters. Our ethical principles are
infrequently joined into the law, when enough of us feel that an ethical standard ought to be
authorized by the weights of a lawful framework. Interestingly, laws are at times censured and
wiped out when it turns out to be evident that they conspicuously disregard our ethical
benchmarks. Ethical quality, in this manner, has molded and impacted a hefty portion of the laws
we have. Most ethicists agree that all citizens have a moral obligation to obey the law so long as
the law does not require clearly unjust behaviour. This implies, by and large, it is indecent to
overstep the law. Unfortunately, the commitment to comply with the law can make unpleasant
clashes when the law requires something that the unique individual accepts is unethical. In such
cases, a man will be confronted with a contention between the commitment to comply with the
law and the commitment to comply with his or her inner voice.[3]
 The elements that impact an individual moral can be ordered to five focuses which are
family impacts, peer impacts, situational variables, educational encounters, individual qualities
and ethics. While guardians can't direct profound quality, they are regularly the first to voice and
show moral limits towards their youngsters. Most guardians think of it as one of their basic
employments to impart a solid feeling of good and bad in their youngsters. Kids ingest the
activities of their family, which contributes intensely to their feeling of ethical quality. People
begin to shape moral principles as youngsters because of their impression of their folks'
practices. From the day we were conceived, we spend most of the time with our folks. Our folks
have turned into the most mingled people groups to us contrasted with any other person. As an
infant, we begin learning things by copy everything that people groups around us do. We will
copy everything from dietary patterns and the ways of talk. We begin build up our own particular
sense as we grow up and each activity that our folks influenced us straightforwardly, henceforth
shaping our own morals. On the off chance that guardians clarifies and rebuffs their kids when
they accomplished something incorrectly, for example, taking, the youngsters will go to an
understanding that taking isn't right and we will be get discipline on the off chance that we takes.
These youngsters will probably embrace high moral guidelines on the off chance that they see
that their relatives cling to this standard. In the other hand, kids that see their folks doing
untrustworthy conduct or didn't get any discipline when something terrible, for example, stealing
will probably build up a settle for the easiest option as the relatives participate in exploitative
practices and permit their youngsters to do likewise. There an example of situation that can be
shown. There are a lot of guava trees in encompassing neighborhood. These natural product trees
are for the most part planted outside the house by the proprietor; these guavas can be effectively
come to and picked by passing people groups. Mr Ramli, at whatever point he passes these trees
he would get the guava and take it back home. These guavas are not possessed by him and he
didn't request authorization before picking them. His child saw what he did and start to copy his
dad. At whatever point his child strolls pass the guava tree, he would get the guava and take it
back home. Mr.Ramli has straightforwardly impacted his child. After effect of this, his child has
created bring down moral models due to his dad's impact.

Peer impact happens when people are encompassed by people groups with the
comparable age and background, this normally occurs at schools. Youngsters are affected by
associates that they interface every day. Activity that these companions do will make the kid
reason, "Since everybody is doing it, should I take after too?". Children's creating psyche is
extremely powerful to associate's impact. The individual will probably be energized in
accomplishing something not moral that the companion does. Youngsters are probably going to
create higher morals standard if their companion have higher moral standard and did not include
in any flawed exercises. At the point when youngsters enter school, they are affected by
companions with whom they collaborate each day. For instance, if a kid's companions participate
in shoplifting, vandalism or medication mishandle, the kid as well, may choose to do likewise.
On the other hand, if the youngster's companions have higher moral norms and reject the said
practices, he is probably going to embrace these principles[4] For example, Nazurah is a very
lovely but quiet person; she doesnt have many friends in school. Lately she has become friends
with a group of girls from other classroom. Her new friends is very polity and respectful to other.
Her friends will greet teachers whenever they pass one. My youngest sister who hangs out with
them most of the time, started to do the same. She has adopted a habit of being respectful to
others. Result of this, Nazurah has developed higher ethical standards because of her peers
influences.

Each country has their own morals, ethic and etiquette and has its different when compare
to another country. This is normal because each country is different from the aspect of religion,
culture and ethnicity. But its objective is same, to maintain peace and harmony between each
other. In greeting customs, Vietnamese individuals for the most part welcome each other by
holding hands and bowing somewhat to each other. Be that as it may, in enormous urban
communities, a few men have received the Western routine of shaking hands. Embracing are
saved for other than family member as it were. Vietnamese ladies by and large don't shake hands
with each other or with men yet the etiquette is adequate between a Vietnamese lady and
foreigner. Vietnamese additionally frequently cease from shaking hands with an older person or
someone that has higher position. When welcoming each other, men tenderly shakes hands and
bow somewhat. When welcoming ladies they bow marginally and gesture. In provincial zones,
some resident bow in customary by doing catching their hands over their midsection and bowing.
In city place, urbanized young fellows and ladies shake hands. When saying farewell,
Vietnamese regularly shake hands or bow marginally. When welcoming somebody of specialist
catch both hands. Individuals are frequently presented with a clarification of their relation in the
family. To address individuals formally, utilize Mr. or, on the other hand Ms. or, then again a title
in addition to the principal `name. There are additionally a few other honorific structures when
tending to individuals of various connections in Vietnamese, however they are not utilized as a
part of English. Thua (which means please) is included front of the name to show regard to older
folks. To show regard, all the more customarily disapproved of Vietnamese lowering their heads
to a prevalent or senior.[5]

Meanwhile, in Malaysia that has multiracial society and Islam as a main religion, there
are bit different. Malays welcome each other with a salaam, in which two individuals each create
both hand and handle both their hands to some degree like a twofold handshake. The flag is used
when saying goodbye. The salaam is quite recently used while inviting men. It is run of the mill
to see people in the vacationer business to welcome visitors by putting their right hand over the
left chest. This flag implies: "I invite you from my heart". Men ought not shake hands with ladies
unless the ladies expand their hands first. Diverse ethnic gatherings address each utilizing
distinctive names. To dodge perplexity, ask a man how they need to be tended to. Malays ought
to be tended to with a Mr., Mrs. or, on the other hand Miss initially took after by the family name
(which starts things out). Accordingly Rafizi Ali would be welcomed as Mr. Rafizi. On account
of the spouse, both her family name and her significant other's family name is utilized. Rafizi's
wife. His significant other Wan Azreen would be welcomed as Mrs. Wan Anwar. When all is said
in had done most Malays think about Western ways so the handshake is run of the mill. There
may be slight complexities in any case and a few things to persist as a fundamental need
incorporate, Malay women may not shake hands with men. Women can clearly shake hands with
women. Men may moreover not shake hands with women and may bow rather while setting their
hand on their heart. The Chinese handshake is light and may be to some degree drawn out. Men
and women may shake hands, disregarding the way that the woman must expand her hand first.
Numerous more established Chinese lower their eyes in the midst of the welcome as a sign of
regard. Indians shake hands with people from a comparable sex. While being familiar with some
individual of the inverse sex, motioning the head and smiling is regularly sufficient. Among all
social orders, there is a general propensity to present, the most imperative individual to the lower
positioning individual, the more established individual to the more youthful individual and ladies
to men.[6]
 Unlike Western meals that area unit divided into separate courses like starter, main entre
and sweet, Vietnamese meals area unit generally served all promptly and shared. Most
Vietnamese families would generally sit on the ground on mats, and every loved one had his or
her own rice bowl and utensils. For soup dishes, they might use soup spoons; for stir-fried dishes
and rice, they might use chopsticks. Spring rolls, and different similar things that area unit
thought-about finger foods (eaten by hand). Vietnamese eat from bowls and use chopsticks and
spoons. Once not getting used chopsticks ought to be placed on a bone plate or dish. Do not
place idle chopsticks in an exceedingly bowl. Chopsticks sticking out up from a bowl symbolizes
death. Chopsticks assail the bowl signifies you've got finished uptake. In some components of
Vietnam, and with some dishes, individuals eat with their hands All dishes except individual
bowls of rice area unit communal and area unit to be shared within the middle of the table. It
additionally customary for the younger to ask/wait for the elders to eat 1st and also the girls sit
right next to the rice pot to serve rice for others. They additionally acquire food for every
different as an action of care. Once uptake, Vietnamese vex the ground around a coffee table or
around a Western-style table with chairs. Dishes area unit usually started out on a table and folks
facilitate themselves. Food is placed on rice in an exceedingly bowl, Chinese-style, or on an
aspect plate with a serving spoon. If there is not a serving spoon, flip your chopsticks around to
serve yourself, in order that the components of the chopsticks that have gone in your mouth dont
bit the food that everyone grabs.

Once uptake with Vietnamese, wait to be shown wherever to take a seat. The oldest
person ought to sit and be served first. Pass dishes with each hand. Chopsticks ought to be placed
on the table or a tableware rest when each few mouthfuls or once breaking to drink or speak.
Individuals usually hold bowls near their faces once uptake. Hold the spoon in your left whereas
uptake soup. Cowl your mouth once employing a strip. Departure some food and uptake all of
your rice is taken into account polite. Creating loud slurps indicates you prefer the food. Soup is
usually served last to clean down meal. Several men use a strip once they end uptake and cup
their hand whereas victimisation it. It's thoughtabout detestably rude to blow you nose at the
board. Once eating with a Vietnamese family watch for head of the family or the eldest to begin
uptake first before you are doing. Vietnamese usually serve you food into your rice bowl. This is
often an act of cordial reception. Meals usually begin with giving created to the family Buddhist
altar. Subsequently the food is carried on completely different trays by the lady the house. Young
men usually eat with their mother and youngsters and girls sometimes eat along. Guest area unit
usually expected to create somewhat speech to give thanks their host. Once tempting a follower
on an outing, the one that offers the invite sometimes offers to pay to the bill. If you run into
somebody at a eating place and you be part of his table, let him pay the total bill or pay it all
yourself. The senior person sometimes pays. Refusing a suggestion for a meal is taken into
account polite.

In Malaysia, Malays and Indians regularly eat foods with their hands. A few restaurants
don't have any utensils whatsoever to give to their customers. Rather each table accompanies a
water pitcher that is utilized to clean the hands after the dinner. Malays eat with just the initial
two of their fingers, not their whole hands. Muslim Malays have generally utilized their left
"dirty" hand to deal with wiping their dirty and other "unclean" bodily functions. Thus, Muslim
Malays never eat or touch somebody with their left hand. Individuals are by and large served a
plate with rice on it. Utilizing a serving spoon they dish themselves food from serving bowls at
the center of the table. Try not to touch the serving spoon to your plate and pass dishes by
holding them with your left hand and supporting them with your correct hand palm down.
Westerners are frequently offer forks, spoons and knives. At the point when Malaysians eat with
Western utensils they more often than not hold their spoon in their privilege and hand and fork in
their left hand and push sustenance with the fork onto the spoon and eat with their correct hand
using the spoon. Individuals regularly sit on the floor when they eat and wash their hands from a
knocking down some pins before beginning to eat. Try not to clean out your nose, make a sound
as if to speak boisterously. Rejecting offer is viewed as terrible conduct.

Malaysia has been an effective creating nation and is moving forward to end up plainly a
created country in its own particular shape. With a specific end goal to be more successful, our
country must be overseen adequately and its shortcomings and inadequacies must be overcome.
A noteworthy test it needs to address in this attempt is the reinforcing of morals and uprightness.
The decrease in morals and respectability among people, associations, and the general public
everywhere is showed as the spread of defilement, inadequacy, misbehaviors, manhandle of
energy, extortion and other deceptive conduct and absence of work inspiration. As realized that
morals can't be enacted yet it must be watched. One might be consistent with the law yet that
does not mean we are certain of his or her integrity.[7]
 Moral instruction ought to begin at home up to the level of advanced education. This
being the situation, the skillful specialists, for example, the Ministry of Education and the
Curriculum Development Center is firmly identified with instruction ought to focus how moral
training can be actualized. In accordance with the National Education Philosophy "to deliver an
adjusted and concordant mentally, profoundly, sincerely and physically in light of the conviction
and commitment to God. This exertion is intended to deliver Malaysian nationals who are
educated, equipped, noteworthy, capable and fit for accomplishing prosperity and add to the
advancement of family, group and country. " At low levels, for example, civics and citizenship
(PSK), Moral training, Islamic instruction should be refreshed to stress the significance of morals
and ethics. Educator vital part is to be the impetuses of information scattering learning and
training to all understudies. Utilization of qualities and profound quality in instructing and
learning will probably shape the coveted morals for what's to come. Correspondingly, while in
advanced education, moral instruction ought to be connected early and obligatory for all
graduates. With this moral training can lead graduates to turn out to manage the intricate
substances of life. Moral instruction can likewise teach a man to think soundly and decide a
demonstration done, regardless of whether great or terrible. As a free country, Malaysia focused
on that stresses the standards of manage of morals to each native as per the fifth and
fundamentals of good conduct and profound quality. With this moral instruction is absolutely
ready to shape a Malaysian culture that is required by their religious convictions that stress more
on the privilege. For instance, Muslims need to carry on with an existence in light of the Quran
and Sunnah all together not to stray confidence and ethics. Along these lines ready to shape a
common society (based present day Qur'an).

For civics and citizenship (PSK), Moral and Islamic education, teaching time and content
to be added over the next lesson focuses on ethical education. This can be applied in group
activities, collaborative learning and so on. Not only that, other subjects can also be incorporated
elements of ethics in the teaching and learning process. Governments and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) to expand and poster campaign to promote ethics in organizations such as
the wearing of the badge "I'm anti-corruption" worn by each member of the Royal Malaysian
Police. This is intended to alert both parties that corruption is cursed and must practice combat.
Organization or community activities such as lectures, forums, seminars, exhibitions and so on
should always insert positive elements and ethical in such programs undertaken by religious talk.
In addition to the mass media and the electronic media need to be ethical in disseminating
information to the public because the two media has a huge influence in the dissemination of
information to the community.

Besides government bodies such as the Ministry of Information Malaysia must play an
important role enhancing the delivery of media and information materials to all segments of
society and not just focus on an organization only. For example, campaigns descriptions Clean,
Efficient and Trustworthy touted must live and continue to always be a guide to every member of
the community. Legislature is to gazette all of that well known. For example, law enforcement is
able to curb corruption. An action dismiss toward criminal offenders, especially if they are
involved in a government stooge. Punishment such as whipping or jail time has an effect if the
sentences was handed down, regardless of status offenders and adopt a wonderful position.
Government's aspirations for the best talent for the future by involving youth in the program of
the National Service Training Centre (NS) as has been proven over filling the application of
moral values and ethical form better individuals through the program of community service.
Additional programs such form that the individual has a strong identity.

Morals instruction ought to be cultivated in schools, in organizations of higher learning in

the work environment and past. Morals instruction will give rules on code of expert morals.
Morals is intended to manage the direct of the experts with the goal that they can utilize their
insight, aptitude and abilities accessible to the banquet of all gatherings. To accomplish this
reason proficient hard working attitudes assume an essential part to make moral and fruitful
society. Be that as it may, the system for controlling human conduct ought to be past expert
morals. This is on account of there are many variables that impact and decide the conduct of an
individual and his choice. Along these lines, different variables, for example, the necessities of
life, life values, law implementation, instruction, religion, culture, and so on ought to be
considered so that make a living domain that always rouse a person to accomplish something that
exclusive advantages coming and the benefit of all.

Morals ought to be learned and honed in everyday life and in every one of our activities.
Adequacy lies in the moral standards of the person. Without self-control and mental quality that
high a man can't accomplish the coveted morals. At the point when moral issues can't be tended
to, then the final resort is law requirement. At the point when this occurs obviously it is past the
point where it is possible to be amended in view obviously there is the discipline that anticipates
the individuals who are blameworthy. In conclusion it can be reasoned that the morals intrinsic in
a man with the teaching and quality of the individual self. Taking everything into account,
considerations and speculations of morals among experts is not planned to show them about
great or awful right one in what is occurring in the routine of their calling. This is on the grounds
that each of the qualities in thought and hypothesis of morals, there is as of now in their lives
since the start of their reviews before turning into an expert. Thankfulness and comprehension of
one's expert about their state of mind and moral hypothesis is critical to urge these individuals
keep on doing admirably and to maintain reality in light of a legitimate concern for all.
References

1) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_legal_history on 29 March 2017.

2) Surbhi. S (2015). Difference between laws and ethics. Retrieved from

http://keydifferences.com/difference-between-law-and-ethics.html on 28 March 2017.

3) Albert O.T. (n.d). Relationship between laws and ethics. Retrieved from http://scrbd.com
on 29 March 2017

4) Individual Ethics in Malaysia. Retrieved from from http://scrbd.com on 29 March 2017

5) Customs and Etiquette in Vietnam. Retrieved from from http://scrbd.com on 29 March

2017

6) Jeffry Hays(2013). Customs, Manners and Etiquette in Malaysia. Retrieved from

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Malaysia/sub5_4b/entry-3639.html on 28 March
2017

7) Anis Yusoff (2006). Ethics and Integrity Vital for Malaysia Success. Retrieved from
http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2006/01/29/ethics-and-integrity-vital-for-
malaysias-success/ on 27 March 2017