Setinggi-tinggi tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga.
Literal translation: No matter how high the squirrel jumps, it will eventually fall onto the ground.
Smart people do make mistakes at times.
Further explanation: Sometimes, setinggi-tinggi is substituted with sepandai-pandai. Although both have different meanings - tinggi means high while pandai means clever - it carries the same meaning. Most of the time, though, this particular proverb has always been associated with criminals, in a way that no matter how clever they try to avoid getting caught, they will not be able to stay that way forever.
Jangan disangka air yang tenang tiada buaya.
Literal translation: Do not think that placid water is without crocodiles.
A serene façade can hide many secrets. Compare to still waters run deep.
Sudah jatuh, ditimpa tangga
Literal translation: After falling, the ladder falls upon you.
After one bad thing another follows.
Harimau mati meninggalkan belang, manusia mati meninggalkan nama
Literal translation: Tigers die leaving their stripes (of their fur), but humans die leaving their names (reputation).
A person dies but his deeds live on.
Sesal dahulu pendapatan, Sesal kemudian tiada gunanya
Literal translation: Being regretful early will be advantageous, being regretful later is of no use.
Compare: Think before you leap
Sedikit-sedikit,lama-lama menjadi bukit
Literal translation: Bit by bit, in the end it becomes a hill.
To do something big, you start with something small.
Bagaikan kacang lupakan kulit
Literal translation: Like the peanut, who forgets its shell.
A person who forgets/denies his roots
Lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama
Literal translation: Milk belongs to the cow, but the bull cow gets the name.
Plagiarism in its essence; one man's sweat becomes another man's glory.
Diam-diam ubi berisi, diam-diam besi berkarat
Literal translation: Casava (Manihot esculenta) grows abundant in silence, but iron corrodes in silence.
Explanation: Casava is a plant whose leaves and root are used mostly in Malay dishes. Unlike potatoes, casava continues to grow even when its roots are ripe for the picking, hence the proverb casava grows abundant in silence. Iron of course refers to daily tools, that are, if left inert (silence) will become rusty and useless. The gist of this is when someone goes into hiding, goes away for some time, or simply becomes silent, he could either be thinking about/doing something important, or nothing at all, and this differs from one person to the next.
Alang-alang menyeluk pekasam, biar sampai ke pangkal lengan
Literal translation: Since you happen to put your hand in a container full of pickles, might as well dip your whole arm in the container.