LETTERS: What would be the proper form of greeting among Malaysians once the Movement Control Order (MCO) is lifted?
How should we conduct ourselves when meeting friends, colleagues and other Malaysians?
With physical touching out of the question (such as shaking hands), what are the options available in the "new normal"?
May I suggest we place our right hand on our chest where our heart is while saying salam, selamat pagi/petang or just a simple hello. A smile and a nod will also go a long way.
Of course, we should always be mindful of the one-metre rule between individuals.
This proposal is not new. The former Deputy Health Minister, Dr Lee Boon Chye, had similarly urged Malaysians to practise the "salam Malaysia" greeting instead of shaking hands in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
In 1999, the then Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir had also suggested that Malaysians use "salam Malaysia" as a form of greeting when welcoming tourists.
In the United States, citizens are asked to put their right hand over their heart during the Pledge of Allegiance as a sign of respect. Besides symbolising dignity and honour, it also affirms sincerity.
If our government is agreeable to this new form of greeting, we should try this gesture right now and not wait until MCO is over.
When you see friends or colleagues, you may be practising social distancing but you can still greet each other this way.
This form of greeting can also be used when you are holding a Zoom session or attending a video conference.
Below are some post-MCO situations where this form of greeting may be used:
• Each time our national anthem Negara Ku is played;
• At schools, when teachers and students greet each other;
• At workplaces between colleagues and visitors;
• At all business and social functions, including conferences and seminars;
• On airlines, when cabin crew greet boarding passengers.
The prime minister and his cabinet ministers can lead by example and use this form of greeting at official functions and when they meet the rakyat.
There's no financial outlay in this proposal. But we gain a lot in terms of enhanced goodwill among Malaysians.
DR POLA SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times