Dealing with nosy colleagues without being rude — what's worked for mE
by Samantha Low·May 26, 2026
"Are you married?" "Why don't you have kids yet?" "How much do you earn?" Malaysian office culture can be remarkably personal.
Strategies that work:
The redirect: Answer with a question. "Why do you ask?" said warmly usually makes people realise they're prying. Most don't have a good answer and the conversation moves on.
The brief non-answer: "Oh, you know, just taking things one day at a time!" delivered with a smile closes the topic without confrontation.
The honest but gentle deflect: "I prefer to keep personal things personal, but how's your [project/weekend/etc.]?"
What doesn't work: Getting visibly annoyed, which just creates awkwardness you have to manage afterward.
The goal isn't to change the person — it's to consistently signal that certain topics are off the table until they stop trying.