Newspapers, music and grocery shopping top Malaysians’ weekly to-do list: GfK

The survey, conducted in January and February, is part of GfK’s global consumer trends study Roper Reports Worldwide, which has gathered insights from more than 40,000 consumers aged 15+ across 28 countries, including 11 from Asia Pacific: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Approximately 1,500 respondents per market were surveyed on their attitudes, behaviours and values across a range of topics.

The findings also show that 40 per cent of Malaysians like to dine out, while 36 per cent frequents coffeehouse, teahouse, bar, pub or cafes for drinks or snacks.

Selinna Chin, managing director for GfK in Malaysia, points out that eating out is a local culture and common trend in Malaysia. “Families with double-income earnings with less time to cook prefer to spend quality time together with friends and families by dining out,” she says.

On the other hand, exercise is Malaysians’ least favourite activity with only 23 per cent of respondents saying they exercise to keep fit.

Chin says that for businesses to succeed in a market, they need to be well aware and understand the reasons behind all these cultural diversity.