Culture Shock Malaysia, by JoAnn Craig, explains the customs, cultures and lifestyles of Malaysia's polyglot population.
God's Dust, by Ian Buruma, is a critical look at the westernisation of Asia and is a fascinating read.
A Short History of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei, by C Mary Turnbull, is a straightforward introduction to the subject.
A Stroll Through Borneo, by James Barclay, is a delightful tale of a long walk and river trip through Sarawak, Sabah and Kalimantan.
Malaysian-based fiction includes Somerset Maugham's Borneo Stories, Anthony Burgess' The Malayan Trilogy, Paul Theroux's The Consul's File and Blanche d'Alpuget's Turtle Beach.