Answer:
The point of mal is to learn the rules.
The starting rules however
1)each player has five cards
2)The game plays much like uno, if you don't know the basics. Get over it.
3)the dealer flips the top card of the deck and declares "the game of mal has begun" You must call a "point of order" to carry on a conversation after this point.
4)the rules in-game
-If changing suite you must tap the table twice and then place the card
-If placing spades you must say the new suit (change color card in uno)
-If placing a club you must say "....of clubs"
-If placing a queen you must say "all hail the queen"
-If placing 7's you must say "have a nice day" (2 sevens= "have a very nice day, three sevens= "have a very very nice day, etc...etc...)
-If you have 2 cards left and place a card you must say "mal"
-If placing a four you must say "four score and seven years ago" -If placing a 3 you must say "larry, curly, mo"
-If placing a jack you must say "ha" if there is more than one jack already in the stack you must say "ha" that amount of times (2jacks= "ha ha")
some people play it different ways (:-/