I find this matter to be a somewhat disconcerting one. (And it is rather Malaysian too, judging from what I’ve seen myself and heard from others.)
For example, when I go about places where there are friends or acquaintances, and I happen upon them, and flash a friendly smile or a “Hi”, but receive no response in return. Or, when I pass by people whose eyes accidentally come to level with mine — the least they could do is scrap away that hard plastic face of theirs and reciprocate my smile with something similar. It wouldn’t hurt; and hell, it would make any of our future encounters less awkward too.
Really, I’m not expecting you to buy me dinner or to become one of my best friends. I neither need your emotions nor your approval.
It is just that I think it to be common courtesy to greet each other, considering the fact that our paths do cross on a near-daily basis.
But really, who cares. After all, this is Malaysia. And aren’t we a group of people renown for our “hospitality, courtesy and civic-mindedness”?