IPOH: Malaysians should opt for the “Salam Malaysia” greeting instead of shaking hands in view of the coronavirus outbreak, says Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye. “So for the time being, I want to tell people to try not to shake hands but use the ‘Salam Malaysia’ greeting (which involves the gesture of placing a hand on the chest), ” he said. (“Salam Malaysia” was a form of national greeting in welcoming tourists suggested by then Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir back in 1999. He said that Malaysians should adopt the right hand-over-heart gesture as a way to greet visitors. He also said that “Salam Malaysia” might be more appropriate than shaking hands as some cultures considered it unsuitable for a woman to touch a man’s hand.)

Source: The Star February 08, 2020 20:37 UTC