Malaysia

From MaxTravelz

Malaysia () is a country in South-East Asia, located partly on a peninsula of the Asian mainland and partly on the northern third of the island of Borneo. Western (peninsular) Malaysia shares a border with Thailand, is connected by causeways to the island state of Singapore, and has coastlines on the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca. Eastern Malaysia (Borneo) shares borders with Brunei and Indonesia.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Destinations 2.1 Cities 2.2 Islands 2.3 National parks 3 Understand 3.1 History 3.2 Geography 3.3 People 3.4 Holidays 4 Get in 4.1 By plane 4.2 By train 4.3 By car 4.4 By bus 4.5 By boat 4.6 On foot 5 Get around 5.1 By plane 5.2 By train 5.3 By car 5.4 By bus 6 Talk 7 Buy 7.1 Currency 7.2 Banking 7.3 Costs 7.4 Shopping 8 Eat 8.1 Where to eat 9 Drink 9.1 Alcohol 10 Sleep 11 Learn 12 Work 13 Stay safe 13.1 Emergency numbers 14 Stay healthy 15 Respect 16 Contact 16.1 Telephone numbers 16.2 Postal services

Regions

Peninsular Malaysia (Malay: Semenanjung Malaysia) occupies most of the Malayan Peninsula between Thailand and Singapore, and is also known as West Malaysia (Malaysia Barat) or the slightly archaic Malaya (Tanah Melayu). It is home to the bulk of Malaysia's population, its capital and largest city Kuala Lumpur, and is generally more economically developed.

• West Coast - the more developed side of Peninsular Malaysia, with the states of Kedah, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Perlis and Selangor, and Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur and the new administrative centre of Putrajaya, all located within this region.

• East Coast - more traditional and Muslim, the islands here are glittering tropical jewels. Made up of the states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu.

• South - comprising just one state, Johor, two coastlines, and endless palm plantations.

Some 800 kilometres to the east is East Malaysia (Malaysia Timur), which occupies the northern third of the island of Borneo, shared with Indonesia and tiny Brunei. Covered in impenetrable jungle where headhunters roam (on GSM networks if nothing else), East Malaysia is rich in natural resources but very much Malaysia's hinterland for industry and tourism.

• Sabah - superb scuba diving in Sipadan and the mighty Mount Kinabalu

• Sarawak - jungles, national parks, headhunters and traditional longhouses

Destinations

Cities

• Kuala Lumpur - the capital
• Malacca - the historical city of Malaysia
• George Town - the cultural and cuisine capital of Penang
• Ipoh - famous for its Chinese food, tin mines and limestone mountains and caves, it is the state capital of Perak
• Johor Bahru - gateway to Singapore and state capital of Johor
• Kota Kinabalu - the largest city in East Malaysia and capital of Sabah state
• Kuching - the capital of Sarawak state, Kuching is Malay for 'cat'
• Putrajaya - the federal government administrative centre (Malay: pusat pentadbiran kerajaan persekutuan) of Malaysia, known for its lavish buildings, bridges and man-made lakes.

Islands

Some of the most stunningly beautiful things about Malaysia are its tropical islands. And there's more to them than sun, sand and surf: particularly on the East Coast and Borneo's Sipadan there are coral reefs and hence excellent diving .

• Labuan - offshore finance centre off the coast of East Malaysia, Borneo
• Langkawi - newly developed West Coast island home to some of Malaysia's most opulent resorts and the Pulau Paya Marine Park
• Pangkor - fishing community and less well-known tourist destination off the west coast
• Penang - former British colony known as the "Pearl of the Orient", and bustling island city with excellent cuisine
• Perhentian Islands - glittering jewels off the East Coast still undiscovered by mass tourism
• Redang Island - popular destination for scuba divers
• Sipadan Island - remote scuba diving paraside at the easternmost tip of Malaysia
• Tenggol Island
• Tioman Island - once nominated one of the most beautiful islands in the world
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

National parks

There are various beautiful national parks in Malaysia. There are many different types of expeditions available, ranging from those where you hardly lose sight of the hotel to those were you are fully immersed in the jungle with only the guide and yourself if you are willing to pay the money! Tours vary from about 4 days to 2 weeks or more. It is very unlikely in most of the national parks for you to see a tiger or an elephant, this is only really likely if you are going to be staying for longer than a few days, i.e. for a couple of weeks at least. One of the most common forms of wildlife that you will encounter in the jungle however are definitely leeches! In the rainforest it is very very humid but actually it is not incredibly hot. This is because of the large amount of shade afforded by the canopy created by the interlocking trees. Shop around for deals of getting into the jungle and make your decision based on what type of person you are. If you are going to enjoy a lot of hiking without seeing any other people for days or even weeks then you can have that choice, alternatively you can have a much more 'packaged' tour in which you will probably stay in a very built up tourist town which has probably just grown out of the demand for people wanting to stay in the jungle.

• Endau Rompin National Park - palm tree paradise
• Mount Kinabalu (Gunung Kinabalu) - at 4100 metres the tallest mountain in South-East Asia
• Mulu National Park - fantastic limestones caves and karst formations
• Taman Negara National Park - the self-proclaimed World's Oldest Rainforest

Understand

Malaysia is a mix of the modern world and a developing nation. With its investment in the high technology industries and moderate oil wealth, it has become a leader within South-East Asia. For the traveller, Malaysia for most part presents a happy mix: there is high-tech infrastructure and things generally work well and more or less on schedule, but prices remain reasonable and daily life far more vibrant than, say, sanitized Singapore.

History

Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a merging of the former British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, including the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession in 1965.

Today's Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, nominally headed by the Paramount Ruler (Yang di-Pertuan Agong), who is elected for a five-year term from among the nine sultans of the Malay states. In practice, however, power is held by the Prime Minister. The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party and its National Alliance (Barisan Nasional) coalition have ruled Malaysia uninterrupted since its independence, and while periodic elections are contested by feisty opposition parties, the balance has so far always been shifted in the government's favor by press control and use of restrictive security legislation dating from the colonial era.

Malaysia's development has been fast but uneven, leading to the often used description of Malaysia - "First class infrastructure, third world mentality." Contributing to this is the bumiputra or Malay-first policy, which provides privileges to the politically-powerful but traditionally poorer ethnic Malays who are the country's majority at the expense of the wealthier minority Chinese and middle-income Indian populations. The result has been the emergence of a small elite class of Malays and a new disadvantaged group of Indians, while the majority of the Malay population at which the bumiputra policy was targeted has only seen modest improvements in income and wealth. This inequity has posed challenges in moving the country forward.

Geography

The climate in Malaysia is tropical. The north-east monsoon (October to February) deluges Borneo and the east coast in rain and often causes flooding, while the west coast (particularly Langkawi and Penang) escape unscathed. The milder south-west monsoon (April to October) reverses the pattern. The southern parts of peninsular Malaysia, including perennially soggy Kuala Lumpur, are exposed to both but even during the rainy season, the showers tend to be intense but brief.

The terrain consists of coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.

People

Malaysia is a multicultural society. While Malays and other indigenous minorities make up a 58% majority, there are also 24% Chinese (especially visible in the cities), 8% Indian and a miscellaneous grouping of 10% "others", many of them tribes from the jungles of East Malaysia. There is hence also a profusion of faiths and religions, with Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism and even shamanism on the map.

Some Malaysians can be very extroverted and might talk to you uninvited but most Malaysians are shy at heart and are careful not to offend others, especially tourists. However, Malaysians are very friendly when approached and will usually go out of their way to help tourists find their way around if possible.

Holidays

Multicultural Malaysia celebrates a vast range of festivals, but the ones to look out for nationwide are Islamic holidays, most notably the fasting month of Ramadhan. During its 30 days, devout Muslims refrain from passing anything through their lips (food, drink, smoke) between sunrise and sunset. People get up early to stuff themselves before sunrise (sahur), go to work late if at all, and take off early to get back home in time to break fast (buka puasa) at sunset. At the end of the month is the festival of Hari Raya Puasa, also known as Aidilfitri, when pretty much the entire country takes a week or two off to head back home to visit family; this is the one time of year when Kuala Lumpur has no traffic jams, but the rest of the country does, and traveling around Malaysia is best avoided if at all possible.

Non-Muslims, as well as Muslims travelling (musafir), are exempt from fasting but it is polite to refrain from eating or drinking in public. Many restaurants close during the day and those that stay open maintain a low profile. Business travellers will notice that things move rather more slowly than usual and, especially towards the end of the month, many people will take leave. The upside for the traveller is the bustling Ramadhan bazaars in every city and town, bustling with activity and bursting at the seams with great food. Hotels and restaurants also pull out all stops to put on massive spreads of food for fast-breaking feasts.

Some uniquely Malaysian festivals of note include the Harvest Festival at the end of May each year and the 'Pesta Gawai' in early June, both thanksgiving celebrations held in East Malaysia.

Other major holidays include Chinese New Year (around February), the Buddhist holiday of Wesak (around June), Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights (around November) and Christmas.

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival that falls in January or February and is one of the must-see events. The largest procession in the country takes place at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. Devotees carry decorated altars or kavadi up a flight of 272 steps towards the temple, all this while also having spears and hooks pierced through various parts of their bodies. This masochistic practice does not harm the devotees in any way! The ability is attributed to divine intervention and religious fervour.

Get in

Many Western nationalities can enter Malaysia without a visa, and are normally issued 30, 60, or 90 day entry permit stamps. Some nationalities that are not eligible to enter without a visa can get a tourist visa on arrival; other nationalities must apply for a visa in advance. Most notably, holders of Israeli or Serbia-Montenegro passports are not allowed to visit Malaysia without separate, prior approval from the Home Ministry (a fairly routine but bureaucratic process). See the Immigration Department of Malaysia website for the current scoop.

By plane

Most international flights land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA ), (AirAsia flights now land at the new LCC terminal situated 20km from KLIA) although some flights also go to Penang, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Malacca. KLIA's predecessor, the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang near Kuala Lumpur handles chartered and turboprop aircraft.

National carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has an extensive worldwide network coverage and regularly ranks high in airline quality assessments, while no-frill low-cost carrier AirAsia now covers an ever-expanding set of neighboring destinations like Cambodia, Indonesia, Macau, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

• AirAsia, +60 37884-9000 (hotline within Malaysia: 1-300-88-9933), .

• Malaysia Airlines, +60 3 7846-3000 (hotline within Malaysia: 1-300-88-3000), .

• Berjaya Air, +60 3 7846-8228 (ticketing only); +60 3 2145-2828, .

By train

Immigrating by train For obscure historical reasons, if you arrive in Malaysia by train from Singapore, your passport will be scanned in but not stamped. Keep your train ticket until you leave the country again, or there may be some hassle on the way out. Likewise, if leaving Malaysia by train you'll get no stamp, but in this direction the Singapore authorities don't mind.

Direct sleeper train services connect Bangkok (Thailand) and Butterworth near Penang (Malaysia), also Hat Yai (Thailand) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). There is also a less used eastern route from Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok on the Malaysian border, but there are no through trains to the nearest Malaysian station at Wakaf Bahru (near Kota Bharu).

Comfortable night sleeper and somewhat misnamed daytime "express" trains also connect Singapore to Johor Bahru, running on to either Kuala Lumpur or Kota Bharu. Bizarrely, tickets from Singapore are twice as expensive as those to Singapore; you can save quite a bit by taking the train from Johor Bahru instead, or buying two separate tickets for the legs.

By car

Land crossings are possible from Thailand and Singapore into Peninsular Malaysia, as well as from Brunei and Kalimantan (the Indonesian side of Borneo) into Sarawak. An International Drivers Permit (IDP) is required. See the respective city or state pages for more detailed information.

From Thailand

• Legal checkpoints are at Wang Kelian and Padang Besar in Perlis, Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah, Pengkalan Hulu in Perak, Bukit Bunga and Rantau Panjang in Kelantan.

From Singapore

• The two crossings are the Causeway which links Johor Bahru with Woodlands in Singapore, and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link which links Tanjung Kupang, Johor, with Tuas in Singapore.

From Indonesia

• The main crossing is at the Tebedu-Entikong checkpoint which lies on the main Kuching-Pontianak road. There are various other minor border crossings which are used by locals.

From Brunei

• The main crossings are at Sungai Tujoh on the Miri, Sarawak, to Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) road, and the Kuala Lurah-Tedungan checkpoint which is on the Bandar Seri Begawan to Limbang (Sarawak) road. You can also access the Temburong district of Brunei by road from Limbang (Sungai Pandaruan) and Lawas (Trusan).

By bus

Long-distances buses into Malaysia run from Thailand, Singapore and Indonesian Borneo.

From Singapore

Major operators of international long-distance buses include:

• Aeroline +60 3 6258-8800 (Malaysia). Luxury buses with meal on-board, power sockets, lounge area etc, from Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya to Singapore from RM70 one-way.

• NiCE. Executive express buses from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Normal NiCE buses RM60, extra-roomy double-decker NiCE 2 buses S$47. Departures from the old Kuala Lumpur railway station.

• Transnasional +60 2 6294-7034 (Malaysia). Malaysia's largest bus operator, offers direct buses from through the peninsula to Singapore. Executive/economy buses RM60/26 to Kuala Lumpur.

• Transtar +65 6299-9009. Transtar's 16-seater First Class coaches from KL to Singapore are currently the best around with frills like massaging chairs, onboard attendants and video on demand, but they also cost the most at S$60 one-way to KL. More plebeian SuperVIP/Executive buses are S$25/39, direct service from Genting and Malacca also available. Many use local transport to get to Johor Bahru and then continue from there by long-distance bus, which usually works out cheaper overall.

From Thailand

Several companies operate long-distance buses from Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia to Hat Yai in southern Thailand, where direct connections are available to Bangkok and many other Thai destinations. Kota Bahru, on the east coast and close to the border with Thailand, is also esily reached by bus, and there are regular bus services from Sungai Kolok on the opposite side of the border to Hat Yai and direct to Bangkok.

From Indonesia

• Biaramas Express and Tebakang Express operate express buses between Pontianak, West Kalimantan and Kuching with connections to other Sarawak destinations.

From Brunei

• Biaramas Express operates express buses from Bandar Seri Begawan to several Sarawak destinations.

• Miri Belait Transportation Company operates a direct bus between Kuala Belait in Brunei and Miri, Sarawak. A change of bus at the Sungai Tujoh checkpoint is necessary.

By boat

Ferries connect various points in Peninsular Malaysia with Sumatra in Indonesia and southern Thailand, Sarawak with Brunei, and Sabah with East Kalimantan in Indonesia and Mindanao in the Philippines.

Brunei

• Several ferries daily between Muara Ferry Terminal and Labuan.
• Daily ferries between Muara Ferry Terminal and Lawas, Sarawak.
• Daily speedboats, mostly in the morning, between Bandar Seri Begawan jetty and Limbang, Sarawak.

Indonesia

• Batam (Riau Islands):
  • Daily ferries from/to Johor Bahru, Johor.

• Bengkalis (Riau):
  • Three ferries each direction per week to/from Malacca
  • Three ferries each direction per week to/from Muar, Johor.

• Bintan (Riau Islands):
  • Daily ferries to/from Johor Bahru, Johor.

• Dumai (Riau):
  • At least two ferries a day to/from Port Klang, the port for Kuala Lumpur.
  • Daily ferries to/from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.
  • At least two ferries daily to/from Malacca.
  • Three ferries each direction per week to/from Muar, Johor.

• Medan (North Sumatra):
  • Daily ferries from/to Medan's port of Belawan to Penang.

• Nunukan and Tarakan (East Kalimantan):
  • Daily ferries from/to Tawau, Sabah.

• Pekanbaru (Riau):
  • Three ferries each direction per week to/from Malacca.

• Tanjung Balai Asahan (North Sumatra):
  • Ferries from/to Port Klang, the port for Kuala Lumpur.

• Tanjung Balai, Karimun Island (Riau Islands):
  • Daily ferries from/to Kukup on the south-west coast of Johor.

Philippines

• Ferries run between Zamboanga and Sandakan, Sabah.

Singapore

• Daily passenger boats between Changi Point and Pengerang, Johor.
• Daily vehicular ferries between Changi Ferry Terminal and Tanjung Belungkor, Johor.

Thailand

• Satun (Satun Province):
  • Four ferries daily between Tammalang and Kuah, Langkawi (except at Ramadan - 3 daily).

• Tak Bai (Narathiwat Province):
  • Vehicle ferries cross the Golok River (Sungai Golok) from/to Pengkalan Kubur, Kelantan.

Luxury cruises also run from Singapore and occasionally Phuket, Thailand, to Malaysia.

On foot

It is possible to walk across the Causeway between Singapore and Johor Bahru at the southern tip of Malaysia. You can also walk in/out of Thailand at Wang Kelian, Padang Besar (both in Perlis, Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah), Betong (Perak) and Rantau Panjang (Kelantan).

Get around

By plane

Largely thanks to budget carrier Air Asia, Malaysia is crisscrossed by a web of affordable flights with advertised "promotional" prices starting at RM9 for flights booked well in advance. Flying is the only practical option for traveling between peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, as well as reaching some of the more remote outposts of Borneo.

Berjaya Air also flies small Dash-7 turboprops from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to its own airports on the resort islands of Pangkor, Redang and Tioman. Prices are steep (from RM214 plus fees one way), but this is by far the fastest and more comfortable way of reaching any of these.

By train

As is the case throughout South-East Asia, trains can rarely match road transport in terms of speed (notable exceptions being Kuala Lumpur's LRT and monorail systems, and the high speed ERL services between KLIA and Sentral Station).

State operator KTMB provides relatively inexpensive and generally reliable services around Peninsular Malaysia (but not Sabah/Sarawak in Borneo). The main western line connects Butterworth (near Penang), Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, while the eastern line runs through Gua Musang and the Taman Negara National Park to Kota Bharu, near the Thai border and the Perhentian Islands.

There are several train types and fare classes. First and second class are air-con, third class has fans instead. For sleeper trains, KTMB's epitome of luxury is Premier Night Deluxe (ADNFD - between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur only) featuring individual cabins containing two berths and a private shower/toilet unit. More economical are the Superior Night (ADNS) sleeper cars, which have upper and lower berths along each side, each bunk having a solid partition at each end and a side curtain for privacy. The carriages shake and rattle quite a bit but are comfortable and clean.

The "Jungle Train" is a daily eastern line service which stops at every station (every 15-20 min or so) between Tumpat (close to the Thai border) and Gemas, including stops at Gua Musang, Kuala Lipis and Jerantut. It's 3rd class only, meaning no air-con and no reservations, and some stops may be lengthy as it's a single line and all other trains have priority - hence the "Jungle Train" waits in side loops along the way so that oncoming or overtaking trains can pass. Tourists may use this service to travel to Taman Negara National Park (Jerantut) or the Perhentian Islands (closest station to Kota Bharu is Wakaf Bahru). Some find it to be a fascinating and stunningly scenic ride; others feel there's not much to see when you're in the jungle.

Eastern line night trains (for which reservations are possible and recommended) also have 2nd class berths and seats, and some have 1st class sleepers too.

Tickets can be booked and even printed online.

Major Station Telephone Numbers:

• Kuala Lumpur CALLCENTER +60 3 2267-1200
• Singapore (Enquiries) +65 6222-5165, +65 6221-3390
• Alor Setar +60 4 731-4045
• Arau +60 4 986-1225
• Bukit Mertajam +60 4 539-2660
• Butterworth +60 4 323-7962, +60 4 331-2796
• Gemas +60 7 948-2863
• Gua Musang +60 9 912-1226
• Ipoh +60 5 254-0481
• Johor Bahru +60 7 223-4727, +60 7 223-3040
• Kampar +60 5 465-1489
• Klang +60 3 3371-9917
• Kluang +60 7 771-0954
• Kuala Kangsar +60 5 776-1094
• Kuala Lipis +60 9 312-1341
• Mentakab +60 9 277-1002
• Padang Besar +60 4 949-0231
• Pasir Mas +60 9 790-9025
• Penang +60 4 261-0290
• Segamat +60 7 931-1021
• Seremban +60 6 761-1708
• Subang Jaya +60 3 5634-1677
• Taiping +60 5 807-5584
• Tampin +60 6 441-1034
• Tapah Road +60 5 418-1345
• Tumpat +60 9 725-7232
• Wakaf Bahru +60 9 719-6986

By car

Malaysia has an excellent highway network, culminating in the North-South Expressway from Singapore all the way to the Thai border. Petrol is cheap at a little over RM1.92 per liter, but tolls are payable on expressways.

Traffic (mostly) drives on the left.

Beware of reckless motorcyclists, especially at night. At traffic lights, they will accumulate in front of you - let them get away first to avoid accidents.

In general, cars and motorcycles might not always indicate line changes and often change from the far right to the far left at the very last minute. Always be aware of what the cars in front are doing!

Care is needed when driving in larger cities, such as Kuala Lumpur. Problems include apparently suicidal motorcyclists, massive traffic jams throughout the day, and bewildering roads especially in the older parts of the city where planning is virtually nonexistent. Out of town however, cars and motorcycles are the best and sometimes the only way to explore the country. Some of the more rural areas have motorcycles and scooters to rent for as little as RM25/day, a great way to explore the local area or larger islands like Langkawi.

To avoid the hassle of driving, taxis are a good way of getting around. They are available in major towns and cities but are most abundant in Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs. Taxis in Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs are metered but when demand exceeds supply or during rush hour, they may ask for a fixed price before commencing travel.

A few tips for unmetered journeys: (1) If you live in an expensive hotel, quoting a nearby destination such as a restaurant or shopping mall might save you some money. (2) Once the haggling is done, hop into the taxi, sit back and don't question the driver - the fastest route between two points in Kuala Lumpur is almost never a straight line!

By bus

The cheapest way to travel in Malaysia is by bus. All towns of any size have a bus terminal offering connections to other parts of the country. There are many companies of varying degrees of dependability, but two of the largest and more reliable are Transnasional and NICE/Plusliner. 24-seater "luxury" buses are recommended for long-distance travel.

If travelling on holidays or even over the weekend, it is advisable to reserve your seats in advance. Note that air conditioning on some buses can be extremely cold so don't forget to bring a good sweater, pants and socks, especially for overnight journeys on luxury buses!

Warning: Bus drivers (especially on more "rural" routes) sometimes drive carelessly, speed like maniacs, overtake on blind corners, etc. The vast mojority of journeys are problem-free but some horrific accidents attributed to reckless driving have, however, led to a crackdown and a nationwide hotline and SMS number for reporting these drivers/vehicles have been set up. These numbers are conveniently pasted on the back of every single large vehicle in the country.

Talk

The sole official language of Malaysia is Malay (Bahasa Melayu). English is also taught in schools and widely spoken in the cities although in rural areas a little Malay will come in handy. There is also a colloquial form of English spoken among Malaysians in urban areas, not inappropriately known as Manglish, which takes a bit of getting used to if you intend to join in the conversation on local topics. Malaysians will almost always try to speak 'proper English' when approached by Western travellers.

The Chinese community in Malaysia speaks a wide variety of Chinese dialects including Cantonese, Mandarin, Teo-chew, Hakka, Hainanese, Foochow, Hok-chew and Hokkien. The most commonly spoken Indian language is Tamil; other include Malayalam, Punjabi and Telugu. In East Malaysia several indigenous languages are also spoken, especially Iban and Kadazan.

See also: Malay phrasebook

Buy

Currency

The Malaysian currency is the ringgit, abbreviated RM or MYR, which is divided into 100 sen. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen (RM1 coins ceased to be legal tender in December 2005) as well as bills of RM1, 2, 5, 10, 50 and 100. The RM2 note is becoming rare and is usually in bad condition as new notes have ceased to be issued. 1 sen and 5 sen coins are mainly given as change in large establishments and supermarkets. Peddlers and street vendors might be reluctant to accept them.

Between 1997 and 2005, the exchange rate to the US dollar was fixed at RM3.8 to 1, which due to the comparative strength of the Malaysian economy made Malaysian products quite cheap overseas. In July 2005 the exchange rate was put under a managed float, following the lead of China's RMB. Due to the people's confidence in the ringgit's stability, foreign currencies are not generally accepted. The major exception is Singapore dollars, which are accepted by eg. train company KTM and toll roads, but at a highly unfavorable 1:1 exchange rate - interpreted so that if you pay a RM1 toll with a S$50 note, you'll get back RM49 in change, a loss of nearly 50%!

Banks and airports are not the best places to exchange money if it is not urgent. Licensed money changers in major shopping malls often have the best rates - be sure to say the amount you wish to exchange and ask for the 'best quote' as rates displayed on the board are often negotiable.

ATMs are widely available in cities, but do stock up on cash if heading out into the smaller islands or the jungle. Credit cards can be used in most shops, restaurants and hotels, although skimming can be a problem in dodgier outlets.

Banking

Banks in Malaysia, especially those in major towns and cities, have staff who are trained to handle international transactions. For any enquiries and transactions, get a number, sit down and wait for your turn to be served (There is no need to queue while you wait in air-conditioned comfort!).

Banks are opened Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm and Saturday from 9.30am to 11.30am except on the first and third Saturdays of each month. In the states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, they are open Saturday to Wednesday from 9.30am to 4pm and Thursday from 9.30am to 11.30am.

Costs

Most visitors will find Malaysia quite cheap, although it is noticeably more expensive than Thailand to the north. You can live in hostel dorms and feast on hawker food for less than RM50 per day, but you'll wish to double this for comfort, particularly if travelling in more expensive East Malaysia. At the other end of the spectrum, luxury hotels and air fares are comparatively affordable, with even the fanciest 5-star hotels costing less than RM400/night.

Tipping is not customary in Malaysia. However, hotel porters and taxi drivers will appreciate a small tip if you have been provided with exemplary service. Most expensive restaurants, bars and hotels may indicate prices in the form of RM19++, meaning that sales tax (5%) and service charge (10%) will be added to the bill. Hotel tax of 5% may also be added to this.

Shopping

Kuala Lumpur is a shopping mecca for clothes, electronics, computer goods and much more, with very competitive prices by any standard. Traditional Malaysian fabrics (batik) are a popular souvenir. The cheapest place to easily buy ethnic souvenirs (especially wood-based) is in Kuching, East Malaysia, and the most expensive place is in the major, posh KL shopping centres.

In general shops open from 10.30am till 9.30pm in the large cities. They open and close for business earlier in the smaller towns and rural areas.

Eat

The crossroads of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisine, Malaysia is an excellent place to makan (eat in Malay). See Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine for an overview of what's available. Look out for regional specialities and Nonya (Peranakan) cuisine, the fusion between Malay and Chinese cooking.

Malaysians are very proud of their cooking and most towns or even villages have their own delicious specialities such as Kajang satay, Ipoh chicken rice, Kelantanese nasi minyak and many, many more. Most of them rely on word of mouth for advertising and are frequently located in the most inconvenient, out-of-the-way places so you might want to try asking the locals for their personal recommendations.

Generally, you can eat pretty much anywhere in Malaysia. Food outlets are comparatively clean - the only thing you should avoid is ice for your drinks, when you frequent the street or hawker stalls since the blocks of ice used there might not be up to your hygienic standards. In actual restaurants this is not a problem. Also you might want to avoid ordering water from hawker stalls or the mamak restaurants as they are usually unboiled tap water.

Where to eat

The cheapest places to eat are hawker stalls and coffeeshops, known as kedai kopi in Malay or kopitiam in Chinese. Despite the name, these usually sell a lot more than coffee! Particularly popular and tasty are mamak stalls, run by Indian Muslims and serving up localized Indian fare. Most hawker stalls stay open till late and some even operate on shifts so you can find the same stall offering different food at different points throughout the day. You can also do take away from any stall, just ask for bungkus (Malay) or ta pao (Chinese). A hawker meal will rarely cost you over RM5.

One step up on the scale is the kedai makanan or the more Western-style restoran. A type looking out for is the nasi kandar restaurant (also known as nasi campur or nasi padang), with a vast range of curries and topping to ladle on top of your rice.

Seafood restaurants (makanan laut) are comparatively pricy but still excellent value by most standards; do check prices before ordering though. Local prawns are gigantic, Chinese-style steamed fish is a treat and crab served with sticky chilli sauce is particularly popular.

Last but not least, some less adventurous options. Food courts in shopping malls are a good way to sample local delicacies in air-conditioned comfort, paying only a small premium over hawker prices. And yes, you can also find McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and the usual suspects plus imitators throughout Malaysia.

Drink

Malaysians like both coffee (kopi) and tea (teh), especially the national drink teh tarik ("pulled tea"), hence named after the theatrical 'pulling' motion used to pour it. By default, both will be served hot, sweet and with a dose of condensed milk; request teh o to skip the milk, teh ais for iced milky tea, or teh o ais for iced milkless tea. Drinking with no sugar at all is considered odd, but asking for kurang manis (less sugar) will ease the pain.

Another peculiar local favourite is the kopi tongkat ali ginseng, a mixture of coffee, a local aphrodisiacal root, and ginseng served with condensed milk that's touted as an alternative to viagra and red bull combined and is usually advertised with a picture of a bed broken in half.

Other popular nonalcoholic options include the chocolate drink Milo and lime juice (limau). Freshly made fruit juices are also widely available, as well as a wide range of canned drinks (some familiar, some less so).

Topically and perhaps, rather un-PC, is a local drink comprised of white soya milk and black grass jelly (cincau) called a Michael Jackson and can be ordered at most hawker centre and local roadside cafes ("mamak")

Alcohol

Although Malaysia is a self-proclaimed Islamic country, alcohol is widely available, however some states (notably Kelantan and Terengganu) place considerable restrictions on sales by and to Muslims. With the exception of tax-free islands (Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman) and duty free shops (for example in Johor Bahru), prices are comparatively high, with a can of beer costing RM4 or more even in supermarkets.

Sleep

The choice of accommodation in Malaysia runs the gamut, ranging from RM20 beds in tribal longhouses to Pavarotti's favorite, the US$1000+/night luxury resort of Pangkor Laut. Accommodation is often extremely good value for money, with even top-of-the-range five-star hotels available for as little as US$50 if you book in advance with the right discounts, which makes Malaysia a great place for a little splurge.

In cities, avoid any hotels marked Rumah Tumpangan instead of Hotel, as there are typically dodgy boarding houses for foreign workers.

Learn

Work

Obtaining a working visa takes some effort. The easiest way to work in Malaysia is probably to work for an overseas company and get posted to Malaysia. The Malaysian Immigration Department website has basic advice. In order to obtain a work permit, you need to have an offer from your future employer who will have to do the paperwork for you. It's very expensive and comes with many restrictions if a company wants to hire a foreigner and as such next to impossible. As stated above, a feasible way is to get transfered. Finding a job is otherwise unlikely unless you are getting married to a local and even then it remains difficult.

Stay safe

Never bring any recreational drugs into Malaysia, even if you are only there for transit. Possession and/or trafficking of even minute amounts can lead to a mandatory death sentence.

Crime levels are relatively low in Malaysia, but common sense precautions should be observed. Pickpockets and snatch-and-run thieves ply their trade in Kuala Lumpur and large cities, and the security of cheaper accommodations may have room for improvement.

Vehicles will not stop at pedestrian/zebra crossings. Seeing that this will not change, the problem is overcome by building pedestrian bridges and installing pedestrian traffic lights.

Drink driving is a serious offence and breathalyser tests by the police are common.

Travel documents and valuables are best deposited in a hotel safe or carried safely with you, as there is a potential of theft from hotel rooms while guests are away.

Women travelling alone should be wary of opening their room doors to strangers. In such situations, common sense judgement should prevail.

If using a taxi after midnight or before dawn, it is best to use the dial-a-taxi service as there have been incidents where taxis flagged down during those hours being fake/unregistered. The unregistered taxi driver might then rob or assault their victims with the help of assailants.

Do not accept drinks from strangers in any pub or club as there is a risk they might be spiked.

Credit card fraud can be a problem, so use plastic only at large, reputable retailers, and do not let your card out of sight.

Public demonstrations are almost unheard of in Malaysia - should any occur, they may be treated with heavy-handed tactics, so avoid them at all costs.

Emergency numbers

• Police/Ambulance - 999
• Fire Brigade (Malay:Bomba) - 994

Stay healthy

Tap water is drinkable but even locals boil or filter it first just to be on the safe side. Otherwise stick to bottled water.

Ice in drinks might be made from tap water but the cylindrical variety with a hollow tube down the middle are mass-produced at ice factories and are safer to consume.

Avoid buying cold drinks or cut fruit from street vendors.

Heat exhaustion is rare, but do consume lots of fluids, use a hat and sunscreen and shower often!

Peninsular Malaysia is largely malaria-free, but there is a significant risk in Borneo especially in inland and rural areas.

Dengue fever occurs throughout Malaysia in both urban and rural areas, and avoiding the bite of an infected mosquito is the only prevention. The mosquito that transmits dengue feeds in daylight and is most active at dusk. If you experience a sudden fever with aches and lethargy, seek medical attention immediately. Aspirin and ibuprofen should not be used until dengue fever has been ruled out.

Haze from burning vegetation in neighbouring Indonesia may come and go without warning from the months of May to August so travellers with respiratory ailments should come prepared. The Malaysian government is actively seeking Indonesia's co-operation in this matter but up until now, efforts seem to have been mostly futile.

Most public washrooms will have both sitting and squatting toilets. If the condition of the sitting toilets is questionable, use the squatting toilets instead - they are more hygienic and just as easy to use as sitting toilets. Before use, check that the toilet paper has been replenished.

Adhere to safe sex practices for all sexual encounters.

It is extremely rare for tourists to seek medical treatment from government hospitals. Private medical care is the only option and costs can be staggering. Be sure to have the appropriate travel health insurance.

Respect

As in any predominantly Muslim country, you should dress respectfully, particularly in rural areas (wearing trousers not shorts and covering your shoulders is recommended but not essential). In more metropolitan areas such as Kuala Lumpur, attitudes are more liberal.

As a tourist, it is best not to criticize the Government and especially the Malay royal families.

When entering a home or a place of worship, always take off your shoes. Also, never eat with your left hand, or give a gift with your left hand; and never point with your forefinger - you may use a closed fist with the thumb instead, or point your feet at a person, or touch a person's head.

Public showing of affection in larger cities is tolerated but might invite unnecessary attention from the public. In more rural areas it is frowned upon and is to be avoided.

Same-sex relationships is a taboo subject in Malaysia. Gay and lesbian travellers should avoid any outward signs of affection, including holding hands in public.

Contact

Telephone numbers

The country code for Malaysia is 60.

Landlines

Malaysian landline telephone numbers have either seven or eight digits. The country is also divided up into areas which have been assigned two or three digit area codes, which have to be dialled when calling from outside the area. The area codes are:

• 03 - Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor
• 04 - Kedah, Penang, Perlis
• 05 - Perak
• 06 - Malacca, Muar district of Johor, Negeri Sembilan
• 07 - Johor (all districts except for Muar)
• 08x - Sarawak
• 08x - Sabah
• 09 - Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu

Area code 02 has been assigned for calls made from Malaysia to Singapore. This means there's no need to call Singapore's country code 65 when calling from Malaysia. International direct dialing (IDD) calls from landlines to all other countries should use the prefix 00 followed by the country code.

To call a Malaysian number:

• From overseas dial the international access code, the country code for Malaysia, the area code without the "0", and then the phone number.

• From outside the local area dial the full area code, followed by the phone number. There are no exceptions to this rule, except when using a mobile phone.

• From within the local area just dial the phone number without any code.

Mobile phones

Malaysia also has three mobile telephone service providers which utilise codes 012, 013, 016, 017, 019. There has been a provision for the 014 code to deal with the lack of available new numbers. This code will be shared among the three providers. Mobile networks utilize the GSM 900 and 1800 systems.

To call a Malaysian mobile number:

• From overseas dial the international access code, the country code for Malaysia, the mobile telephone provider's code without the "0", and then the telephone number.

• From within Malaysia dial the provider's code with the "0", and then the telephone number.

• From mobile phone to mobile phone within Malaysia dial the provider's code with the "0", and then the telephone number. Although you can drop the provider's code if the two phones share the same provider, you will still get through if the provider's code is dialled.

Postal services

Many international courier services like Fedex, DHL and UPS are available in towns and cities but the main postal service provider is Pos Malaysia which provides reliable and affordable postal services to most countries in the world.

Non-urgent letters and postcards can be dropped in postboxes inside post offices or red postboxes found outside post offices and along main roads. If there are two columns on a postbox use the one on the right for international post.

Post offices are open from 8am to 5pm daily except Sundays and public holidays. In the states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu they are closed on Fridays and public holidays.

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