‘We work to live’: Malaysians push back against Chinese business norms

Malaysians were outraged after a video went viral two weeks ago by a businessman – apparently from China – warning investors against hiring Malay employees due to their unreliability and unwillingness to meet demands such as overtime work.

He complained that Malay staff would go missing “for the entire Friday afternoon” as they perform their religious obligations at the mosque.

“The Malays will try to balance work life & religion as best as they can without forgetting the reason we live on earth. We work to earn & to live NOT live to work,” read a retort by one Ana on Facebook.

But the real issue facing most businesses in Malaysia – regardless of whether they are run by locals or mainland Chinese – is getting younger people into work in the first place, according to industry experts.