TABOOS

IN MALAYSIA
a rule against doing or
saying something in a particular
culture or religion

Malay
1. Bila nampak biawak lintas jalan, ada mara bahaya di depan
(When a monitor lizard crosses the road, there’s danger ahead)

2. Jangan nyanyi kat dapur, nanti dapat laki tua

(Don’t sing in the kitchen, you’ll end up marrying an old man)

Chinese Indians
Gifts The "Evil Eye"
Certain gifts are seen as The Nimbu-Mirchi Totka (lemon and chillies
inauspicious. For example, never give being tied together at the doorway), is used
to ward off the “Evil Eye”, which can bring in
a clock, watch, or pocket watch as a
送钟
gift because "to send a clock" ( ,
a negative to the household.

sòng zhōng) sounds like "the funeral
送終
ritual" ( , sòng zhōng). According
to Chinese taboo, clocks symbolize
that time is running out.
It is believed that the Nimbu-Mirchi-Totka is
there to keep Alakshmi, sister of Goddess
Lakshmi away. Alakshmi is believed to bring
poverty and misery, and likes sour, pungent
and spicy things. The lemon and chillies are
tied outside so she stays there to satisfy her
hunger, and then walks away without casting
her evil eye into the house.

Iban
TABOOS FOR PREGNANCY & BIRTH:
They must not cut creepers which
grow over water and roads as it
will mean that the wife will suffer
from hemorrhage while giving
birth.
The wife is forbidden to pour oil
on her palms for oiling her hair
for it means that her child will
have overflowing ears as in ear
infections.
Both husband and wife are
prohibited from wedging the
handle of a knife (ngemalau
duku) otherwise their child will be
born deaf.
Kadazan
1. Moths/ Butterfly fly into the house
a spirit of their recently departed
relatives coming for a visit. The old
folks will advise not to chase the
moth out from the house or kill it
2. Hunting in Borneo Jungle
when a man is going for hunting in
Borneo Jungle for food, he will
need to be very careful when
having spotted a snake because
meeting a snake is a bad sign