The use of internationally and locally published English Language Teaching (ELT) textbooks is crucial to aiding in teaching and learning. However, choosing the right textbook or developing one has been known to be a challenging task. Various frameworks have, therefore, been proposed by different researchers to outline the criteria that should be taken into consideration in the process of developing, selecting, and evaluating ELT textbooks. These criteria would be the main focus of this study to improve language programmes in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the criteria that make a good ELT textbook based on the perception of seven ESL secondary school teachers in Malaysia. Face-to-face interviews have been administered to collect data, which are analysed through thematic analysis. The findings of this study have revealed eleven criteria that are deemed crucial for a good ELT textbook, which include Culture and Cultural Introduction. These eleven criteria should be taken into consideration for the selection and evaluation of ELT textbooks, as well as to develop or to supplement the existing frameworks, primarily in the teaching of English as a second language in Malaysia.