Complimenting a female stranger... Is it scary or acceptable?

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Hi there, I would really appreciate the views of female 'MyLotters' on this question. (God I hope I get credited with the invention of that word) When a stranger, say at college or at the supermarket, says something like 'You are very beautiful' or 'You have very nice hair', would you be freaked out, or pleasantly surprised? Please bear in mind that this is in Malaysia, which is slightly on the conservative side. Thanks in advance!