Dress in Malaysia

and probably in Kelantan...

It's generally better to wear bra under your top. But the rule usually doesn't apply when you're out on perhentians, or wherever it's more touristy. Traditional dress code is not imposed on foreigners or whoever looked like a foreigner. However, people are always more amiable if you don't look downright indecent to them.

specifically i would say cover your shoulders and chest ie no singlet style tops and cover your legs eg pants or skirt below the knee, tight tshirts and tight jeans not a good idea either, I wore a short or long sleeve button up shirt and cargo style pants, in reality you can wear whatever you want, but you will be treated more respectfully if you dress appropriately. you can wear whatever you like on perenthian islands eg bikini, short shorts etc

For the heat factor, agreed you may find wearing string t-shirts and shorts more comfortable, no problem for you to wear one either. However, as most posts pointed out, if you happen to be in 'public' area downtown in Kelantan, Trengganu then is best you have an extra shirt (not necessary long sleeve though) to cover up and a sarong to wrap over to cover your tights.

So, I find sparing a cotton shirt (short/long sleeves) and a sarong comes handy in your day packs, whenever you find the occation require you to cover up (such as temple, mosque etc)

BTW, when I visisted perhentian kecil few years back, I even saw few female Westerners went nude top!

I have asked a similar question to this on the women's board. I was also asking what the dress standards would be for an 8yo girl, ie, would she need to dress as conservatively as a grown woman? She is 8yo and usually gets around in shorts and tank tops in Summer in Australia. We live in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood here in Sydney (not Malay Muslim though) and notice that the girls not usually as strictly attired as the women. Also what about men's dress? Long pants a better idea than shorts?

Thanks everyone for your useful comments. It's given us some good tips!

Dress standards for an 8yo girl would be shorts ok with a blouse with short sleeves. And a sarong is not expected of a foreigner. Shorts to the knees and a shirt/blouse covering the shoulders is fine. Malaysia is a modern country used to all types of dress, and muslims don't expect a non muslim to dress as they do.

Thanks Lex!