This document provides resources for prospect identification in Asia, including organizations, publications, cultural practices, and contact information. It lists groups and publications focused on business, philanthropy, real estate, and current events in countries across Asia. Brief cultural notes on titles, forms of address, and handshakes in countries like Malaysia, Japan, and Hong Kong are included. The document emphasizes working collaboratively and thinking beyond borders in prospect identification.
17. Malaysia - Titles
Forms of Address:
Encik (pronounced En-chik) - rough equivalent to Mr; eg Encik Azahari bin Ahmed could be addressed as Encik Azahari
or Mr Azahari. “bin” refers to “son of” ie son of Ahmed in this case
Cik (pronounced Chik)- rough equivalent to Miss; Puan – rough equivalent of Mrs;
Tuan - title of respect for older/distinguished people, similar to “sir”. The feminine form is “Puan”. Often
precedes a second title “Haji” (feminine “Hajjah”) which indicates a person who has made a pilgrimage (Haj) to
Mecca.
Titles:
There are many titles conferred either by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Paramount Ruler of Malaysia), or by sultans
and rulers of states, as well as customary titles (including royal and semi-royal titles, religious, village and regional
leadership, hereditary and honorific titles).
Tun (Feminine Toh Puan) is the highest honour that can be conferred on a commoner. It is bestowed by the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong. Not common.
Tan Sri (Feminine Puan Sri) is bestowed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the federal government and
is the equivalent of a knighthood. Generally regarded as higher in status than Datuk. Address simply as Tan Sri, or
Puan Sri as applicable.
Datuk (old form Dato' is still commonly used), can be a hereditary title for traditional leaders not of a royal line or
can be an ex-officio title. It can be bestowed by one of the State Sultans or by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in
consequence of admission to one of a number of orders. Its holders should be addressed simply as Datuk
(pronounced Dato). Wives typically take the title Datin. NB women can be given the title Datin in their own right.
The Monash standard for nametags and mailings is that where a person has adopted an English given name we use
this in English-style order, eg Dr Robert Ting. Where they have no English name, we leave the name in original
Chinese format , ie Dr Ting Seng Kiong.
Courtesy of Michael Simmonds, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
18. Postal Pointers
Hong Kong – no postal codes
Half the population lives in public housing (tip: if the address has
“estate” in it, most likely a public housing estate)
Affluent neighbourhoods include: The Peak, Mid-Levels, Repulse
Bay, Stanley, Sai Kung, Shouson Hill, Discovery Bay Kowloon
Tong, Deep Water Bay
Singapore – has postal codes!
A large proportion live in public housing (tip: HDB – Housing
Development Board)
If someone has an independent house, it’s usually a wealth indicator
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
19. Cultural Savvy
Japan 2Know®
Bows and Handshakes
A handshake is appropriate upon meeting.
The Japanese handshake is limp, with little or no eye contact.
Some Japanese bow and shake hands.
The bow is a highly regarded greeting to show respect and is appreciated by the Japanese.
However, be aware that a bow between two Japanese people is a complicated ritual. The degree of
inclination depends on the relationship between the people involved and the situation in which bows
are exchanged.
Foreigners should not attempt more than a slight bow to show courtesy, and should never
bow in jest.
To bow, place your heels together, bend from the waist and look down. Do not look at the other
person. Also be sure to bow your head.
When bowing, men should keep their hands at their sides. Women should cross their hands in front
of their bodies.
Make sure you are standing farther away from the other person than you would if you were shaking
hands. Otherwise, you risk hitting heads.
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
21. Hong Kong Scholars –
it’s a hard life …
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
22. Links from Natasha’s Desk …
Asia’s Most Powerful Families The Asia Society - AMAZING Resource!
on the cover of Time Magazine: http://www.asiasource.org/
http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501040223/ International Grants and Funders:
Asia Inc. - Who’s Hot in Asia
http://www.fundsnetservices.com/internat.
http://www.asia-inc.com/Jun04/HOTinAsia_jun.htm htm
Worth looking at even though outdated (no longer
published): Asia Week’s Power Lists from 2001 http://www.cfoasia.com/
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/ Real Estate:
Country Profiles – including etiquette: http://www.hongkonghomes.com/
http://www.windowontheworldinc.com/countryprofil Asian Philanthropy:
e/index.html http://www.asianphilanthropy.org/rorg/ind
Asian Business & Research News Portal: ex.cfm
http://www.apmforum.com/asiaportal.htm Conference Schedules – For example:
http://www.hkcec.com.hk/english/eventcal
endar/event_list.php
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
23. Newslinks
China Daily
http://www.chinadaily.net
China Online
http://www.chinaonline.com
Far Eastern Economic Review
http://www.feer.com
Hong Kong Standard
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/topstory.cfm
InsideChina
http://www.insidechina.com
South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com/
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
24. Monographs We Recommend
Becker, Jasper. The Chinese (2000: John Murray, London)
Breen, Michael. The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where
Their Future Lies (1999: Orion Business Books, London)
Cannon, Margaret. China Tide: The Revealing Story of the Hong Kong
Exodus to Canada (1989: Harper & Collins, Toronto)
Ching, Frank. The Li Dynasty: Hong Kong Aristocrats (1999: Oxford
University Press; Oxford & New York)
Hayhoe, Ruth. China’s Universities, 1895-1995 – A Century of Cultural
Conflict (1996: Garland Publishing, New York & London)
Joseph, Joe. The Japanese: Strange But Not Strangers (1993: Viking,
London)
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
25. What We’ve Learned
Work closely together and
share the expertise
This can be a fun part of your portfolio
Think beyond borders!
26. Contact Info
Sunnybrook & Women’s Foundation
www.sw.ca
Natasha Vasiliou
e-mail: natasha.vasiliou@sw.ca
University of Toronto
www.utoronto.ca
Krista Slade
e-mail: krista.slade@utoronto.ca
® Krista Slade & Natasha Vasiliou
