Dress Code in Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

Is Malaysia strict with dress code? ›

Short shorts, tank tops, crop tops and spaghetti straps aren't culturally appropriate in Malaysia. While women are expected to dress more conservatively than men, men should also cover up from the shoulders to below the knee.

: a set of rules about what clothing may and may not be worn at a school, office, restaurant, etc. The school imposed a new dress code that forbids students from wearing jeans.

Some men prefer wearing batik shirts with trousers. Women: The ancient traditional dress for Malay women was kemban, which included sarongs tied above the chest. The current traditional dress for women is baju kurung, which comprises of a knee-length, full-sleeved blouse and a long skirt called kain.

Business Dress Code in Malaysia

When attending normal business meetings the standard western business attire of suits and ties for men and suits or skirts and blouse for women are appropriate. Evening functions can be more informal with short sleeves being worn by men and trousers by women.

Contrary to popular beliefs, you can wear anything you like in Malaysia as long as it is considered decent.

Yellow clothing is banned in Malaysia

If yellow is your favorite color, it won't make a fashion statement in Malaysia, unfortunately.

Two things to avoid in this moderately conservative, Muslim region are public shows of affection (holding hands is OK, kissing is not) and drinking alcohol outside designated bars or clubs – even in resort areas frequented by foreigners.

Tight or see-through clothing is not allowed, so it's best to wear loose-fitting clothes. If you're unsure what to wear, bring a scarf or shawl that you can easily put on. Flip flops or easy-to-remove shoes are recommended since you'll need to take them off when entering the temple.

As Penang has a tropical climate, it is advisable to wear cool clothing. It is usually sunny, but the heat is moderate and still comfortable to walk around outdoors. Shopping malls and restaurants are equipped with air-conditioning so you may want to carry along a light cover-up.

Smart casual attire for women

Trousers, including chinos and jeans work well with a blouse or jacket. Long, or just below the knee, skirts in a range of fabrics pair well with plain tops and jackets. Trousers and skirts which have a subtle design pattern provide a well-matched look with a variety of tops.

Are jeans business casual? ›

Although jeans as a whole are considered business casual, not all jeans are business casual, and color plays a big part. As a general rule of thumb, the darker the jean, the more suitable for a business casual dress code. If your workplace is on the casual side, however, you can opt for a lighter wash.

Clothing should be clean - no torn, dirty or excessively wrinkled items. Clothing with offensive or distracting words or pictures would remain out of the workplace. Overly revealing apparel exposing too much skin or undergarments is also inappropriate in the workplace.

Malaysia is a multicultural but mostly Islamic country. Many areas have conservative standards of dress and behaviour, including at religious sites and government offices. Get advice on local customs. Malaysia enforces some aspects of sharia law.

Human Rights Watch reports that state-level Sharia (Islamic) laws prohibit cross-dressing, and transgender people "face arbitrary arrest, physical and sexual assault, imprisonment, discriminatory denial of health care and employment, and other abuses."

No, wearing a hijab is not mandatory in Malaysia. However, there are tremendous social pressure for the Malay girl / Muslim woman to don the hijab; especially after they are married.