Jurnal Komunikasi Malaysian Journal of Communication Jilid 34(1) 2018: 238-252 E-ISSN: 2289-1528 https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2018-3401-14 Family Communication Amongst Conventional Malay Man JAMIAH MANAP SUZANA MOHD HOESNI Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia MOHAMMAD REZAL HAMZAH Universiti Malaysia Perlis ABSTRACT Communication is an essential tool for successful family functioning. Communication in the family is very important as it allows members to express their needs, wants, concerns and loves. Effective communication creates an atmosphere that allows family members to express their differences as well as love and admiration for one another. Love is the basis of happy and successful family. Each culture has their own way of expressing their love. Thus, the present research aimed to understand on how the conventional Malay men communicate their love in the family. A grounded theory approach in qualitative research design was used to answer the research question. The data collection involved semi-structured interview, observation and document analysis. As a result, seven main themes emerged. The themes are academic supervisor, personal advisor, financial provider, educator, positive role model, discipline maintainer, and spiritual leader. In summary, the conventional Malay Men communicate their love via a high commitment to the family especially to their children. As a result, the children appreciate their father’s love and make it as a reason to be successful in life. Good communication helps family members come to an understanding, which is the basis for all healthy familial relationships. Communication is a key way to show our family members how to love each other. Keywords: Family communication, parenting, educational psychology, fatherhood, Malay psychology. INTRODUCTION Love is one indicator of happy and functional family. Without love, the family climate becomes dull and empty. According to Sternberg (1986), there were three dimensions of love: intimacy, commitment and passion. Intimacy in the feeling closeness and connectedness. Commitment is one’s efforts to maintain the love. Meanwhile, passion is sexual attraction and romance. Marriage is the basis of family development. Research has reported that married women are less stressful than single and divorced women (Jamsiah, 2010). However, family strength and happiness is greatly depending to the character and status of the husband (Sidek, 2010). Ibu Mithālī required a great spouse to achieve the mission and vision in educating the children and the family. Father played a more important role to nurture their children especially when more mothers involve in the workforce (Magill-Evans et al., 2007). Great spouse in this context is religious, loyal and responsible husband who assumes their role as a father, good educator, leader and activist to the society. These also augurs well with the Rasūlullāh advice in selecting a husband: