Needless to say, that business relationship floundered. I had made two serious mistakes – not being punctual and giving a most inappropriate gift in a Muslim-dominated country. It almost seems incredible that I could have been so naive, but I have learnt a great deal since. After many trips, I have grown to really enjoy visiting “KL” and it has become my business city of choice in Asia.

I had imagined the Malaysian capital to be a bit of a business backwater, overshadowed by Singapore to its south and Bangkok to the north. Although KL is smaller than its competitors, it offers an excellent infrastructure and all the facilities needed to conduct business today. And I like the more intimate feel of the Malaysian capital. Once work is over, the city has a great social life. It's less hectic than the other capitals, but just as charming and elegant. The Malaysian people have a real pride in the city – a symbol of the country's rapid development.

Flying to KL is always a pleasure, mainly because of the excellent express train service to the city centre. In less than 25 minutes, you are in the heart of the city, only a short taxi trip away from the main hotels and business centre. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to good hotels: not only are they among the best in the world, the prices are very reasonable.

At the top end of the market, the hotels I have stayed in are the Mandarin Oriental, located right next door to the famous Petronas Towers , the JW Marriott, part of a glitzy mall on Bukit Bintang Road , and the Shangri-La, with a lovely garden setting. They all have excellent business facilities. If I am watching my budget, I usually opt for the Dorsett Regency, which is located across the road from the classy Ritz-Carlton. The staff in the business centre is very helpful and the location is great – you can walk to the restaurants, bars and shopping malls on Bukit Bintang. Another good budget hotel in the area is the Allson Genesis.

I always use taxis to get around. They are cheap and more convenient than hiring a car. Sometimes getting the testy drivers to use the meter can be tricky. In these cases, I ask politely and say: “Add five!” The extra five Malaysian Ringgits (just over one US dollar) will usually get you to your destination on time.

Now some tips on doing business. The city has become increasingly cosmopolitan, so many Western practices have become acceptable. However, there are do's and don'ts things that can help you establish closer relationships and ease signing those deals. First, there's the issue of punctuality. You will often be kept waiting, but you should always arrive on time even if you expect the meeting to be delayed. Making a Malaysian executive wait can result in “loss of face,” which has negative consequences for your prospects.

Status and first impressions are very important throughout the East. You should always be exceedingly polite and respectful and address the person by their title and name. You can establish informal, friendly relationships, but this takes time. As a foreigner you should dress conservatively, despite the fact that business dress in Malaysia is often casual. Because of the heat and humidity, office workers usually wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts and a tie. Businessmen often wear a short-sleeved shirt with no tie. When I am unsure, I usually wear a tie and jacket that I can take off quickly. Never wear the colour yellow – that is reserved for royalty.

Then there is the sometimes thorny issue of gifts – don't arrive with a bottle of whisky! Gifts are not always given on first meetings – but you don't want to be caught empty-handed. I always have a small gift with me – usually a souvenir pen set from home – that I can produce if need be. Expensive gifts are frowned upon and you should never reciprocate with a gift of greater value than that received. Gifts should be accepted in both hands and they are never opened in front of the giver to “save face”. Never wrap gift in white paper as this colour is associated with death and mourning. Also avoid blue, black and yellow gift-wrap.

The business community in KL is generally friendly, but you should not expect to finalise deals quickly. Many Malaysians try to avoid confrontation and often don't give you a direct answer of “no”. A hesitant “yes” usually means “no”. If your question is deliberately being ignored, then that is also a “no”. Don't be unnerved by periods of silence in conversation. Before answering a question, Malaysian business protocol demands a pause of up to 15 minutes before answering. Don't mistakenly assume that you have agreement and resume talking before the Malaysian has a chance to give a genuine response.

Always accept any social invitation – this is an important part of doing business. Be prepared to sample anything that is offered, even if you find it unappealing. Don't try to split the bill in restaurants, as the host is expected to pick up the tab. All you have to do is show your appreciation. That won't be difficult – KL has some excellent restaurants. A few of my favourites are Shook in the Starhill Centre, where you can choose from Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Western cuisine; the fabulous Japanese eatery Zipangu in the Shangri-La Hotel and western-style Cilantro in the Micasa Hotel Apartments.

However, some of my most enjoyable meals have been “on the street” where tables are set up around mobile food carts and stalls. I recommend you try the Jalan Alor stalls near Bintang Walk. It's a grubby non-descript street by day, but a colourful, chaotic food mecca by night. The glitzy shopping centres, like the new Times Square are world-class, but my favourite past-time is to head down to Chinatown and roam around there, looking for bargains and soaking up the atmosphere. There's no better antidote to a stressful day of meetings!