| Greetings |
Handshake (wait for opposite gender to extend first); “Selamat datang” (welcome) appreciated |
| Longhouse Entry |
Always bring a small gift (tobacco, sugar, or biscuits); remove shoes; ask permission before photographing |
| Adat (Customary Law) |
Respect adat in indigenous communities; follow the tuai rumah (headman’s) guidance |
| Dress |
Modest in rural areas and longhouses; shoulders and knees covered; no hats inside longhouses |
| Photography |
Ask permission before photographing people, especially in longhouses; some rituals are private |
| Alcohol |
Tuak (rice wine) offered in longhouses — polite to accept a small amount; Muslims may abstain |
| Pointing |
Never point with index finger; use thumb or chin |
| Heads & Feet |
Head is sacred; feet are unclean — never point feet at people or sacred objects |
| Bargaining |
Common in markets; not in restaurants or established shops |