Kuala Lampur, Aug. 25 -- There is something quietly reassuring about how coffee is served whenever people gather.

It happens so naturally that we rarely stop to think about it. Whether it is during a university meeting, a kenduri, a visit to someone's home during Hari Raya or even a discussion after Friday prayers, there always seems to be an unspoken order.

The guests are served first. The older members of the group are usually attended to before everyone else.

Those nearest the coffee pot instinctively help those sitting further away before pouring a cup for themselves.

Nobody announces these little courtesies. Nobody pauses the conversation to explain why they matter. They simply happen, almost as though the script never needed to ...