Malaysia
Time
GMT plus eight hours
Climate
The climate is tropical with high temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. Relative humidity averages about 80 per cent annually.
Average daily temperatures 21–32 degrees Celsius (C) in the lowlands; in the hill resorts they average 18–24 degrees C but can be as low as 16 degrees C.
November–February is the rainy season for the east coast of Peninsular
During the months of April, May and October, the west coast of the peninsula experiences occasional thunderstorms in the afternoons. Showers are heavy but they clear up as quickly as they come.
Rainfall averages around 2,300mm a year.
Entry requirements
Passports
Passports are required by all, and they must be valid six months from date of departure. Visitors must have an onward or return ticket and enough money to finance their stay in
Visa
Required by all; some visitors can obtain visas, for business and tourist purposes, on arrival but only from airports. For a detail list of requirements see www.kln.gov.my.
A visitor's pass issued for entry into the
Visitors arriving in
Prohibited entry
Holders of Israeli passports.
Customs
Personal items and a limited amount of tobacco (200 cigarettes or 50 cigars) and alcoholic beverages (one litre of wine, spirits or whisky) may be imported duty-free.
Prohibited imports
Items include firearms and ammunition, daggers and knives and pornographic materials.
Currency advice/regulations
All visitors must declare amounts over M$1,000, or equivalent, on a Travellers Declaration Form (TDF), which can be obtained at the airport. On departure, the TDF must be filled in prior to immigration clearance.
The import and export of local currency is limited to M$1,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported on arrival.
Getting there
Air
National airline
Malaysian Airlines (MAS).
International airport/s
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), 55km south of Kuala Lumpur, near Putrajaya, duty-free shop, bar, restaurant, buffet, bank, business facilities, post office, shops, car hire. Taxis must be pre-paid in the airport arrivals area; (travel time – 40 minutes). KL City Buses operate a 24-hour Express Bus Service to the Airport Bus Terminal–Hentian Duta–Kuala Lumpur city centre, leaving every 15 minutes (luxury coach) or every hour (semi-luxury coach). The journey takes about 1 hour.
Airport tax
International departure tax M$40 (US$10.5); domestic M$10 (US$2.6).
Surface
Road
The state of Johor is linked to
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Rail A railway line runs from Water The main ferry crossing from |
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Getting about
National transport
Air
There are over 20 domestic airports. MAS operates extensive network services to main centres and, particularly in Sabah and
Rail
The capital city is the hub of the national railway system, which is modern, comfortable and economical. Day and night services link major cities in Peninsula
There is a line which branches off the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Butterworth-Thailand line at Gemas and runs through Kuala Lipis up to the north-east corner of
There are express and ordinary trains. Express trains are air-conditioned and are generally first- and second-class only, and on night trains there is a choice of sleepers or seats.
Rail passes are only available to foreigners and can be purchased at a number of main railway stations.
Road
About 80--90 per cent of the 43,818km road network in Peninsular Malaysia is paved. In the monsoon season driving can be difficult.
In almost every town there are long-distance taxi offices or teksi (taxi) ranks. They wait for the full complement of four passengers before leaving.
Buses
Most long-distance bus services operate from the Puduraya bus and taxi station on Jalan Pudu in
Water
The Straits Steamship Company operates a passenger service between Port Kelang and Sabah and
City transport
Taxis
Travel vouchers for airport taxis are available at the airport counters at fixed rates.
Between midnight and 0600, an extra surcharge of 50 per cent applies. There is an extra charge for telephone bookings.
Taxi coupons at fixed prices to various destinations in the city and its vicinity are available at Platform Four of the
It is advisable to ask your hotel to order a taxi in advance, or hire a taxi by the hour, or hire the hotel limousine.
There are bicycle rickshaws in many towns.
Buses/trams
There are buses from and to the international airports every 15–20 minutes. There are buses in major cities. Suburban bus services run in
Metro
Trains
The express rail link between central
Car hire
Car hire is available in all main cities. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road, and the use of seat belts in front seats is obligatory. International driving licences are required. Chauffeur-driven cars are available.
Health (for visitors)
Mandatory precautions
Valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever if travelling from infected area.
Advisable precautions
Vaccinations are advisable for diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis 'A' and 'B', Japanese 'B' encephalitis, tetanus and polio. Tap water is boiled by many people before drinking, although it is generally regarded as safe.
There is a malaria risk in Sabah (northern
Visitors with respiratory problems, may be put at risk from the poor air quality caused by pollution.
Dress codes
Lightweight clothing is worn all year. The dress code tends to be conservative and although jackets are not usually worn in offices, a tie and long-sleeved shirt are normal. For formal meetings, a full suit is required. Government officials often wear a safari-style short-sleeved suit. In deference to the Islamic culture, western business women should dress modestly at all times.
Social customs/useful tips
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Appointments must be made in advance and punctuality is important. It is customary to shake hands on meeting and taking leave, although Muslim women avoid shaking hands with men and vice versa. Business cards are exchanged after introduction. By tradition, Malaysians are hospitable, open people and prefer to avoid arguments, which are seen as distasteful. Avoiding loss of face is an important consideration in business negotiations. Malaysians place great importance on the correct use of titles. Tunku or Tengku indicates hereditary royalty; Tun denotes membership of a high order of chivalry. Tan Sri an Datuk (or Datuk Seri or Dato) indicate knighthood. Tuan or Encik is the equivalent of Mr, Puan of Mrs, Cik of Miss. Visitors should be aware of the conventions of Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, and other religious and ethnic groups. Muslims are not permitted to drink alcohol or eat pork. The fasting month of Ramadan is strictly observed. Use right hand only for receiving anything (food, drink, money etc) and for eating. Refusal of offered refreshment is considered discourteous. It is customary to bargain when shopping, except in department stores. Tipping is officially discouraged but is seen in the capital. The authorities have a very strict attitude to drug abuse and there can be a mandatory death sentence for anyone, including foreigners, who is convicted of possession of even a very small amount of narcotics. Other punishments include whipping, in addition to any custodial sentence. Warning notices about dadah (drugs) are prominently displayed at the airport. |
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Security
Street crime is low compared with European cities, but is increasing. Bag snatching is becoming common generally, as is passport theft on aircraft and in airport buildings. Possessions should not be left unattended, even in vehicles with a locked boot. Credit card fraud is becoming more common, and care should be taken when paying by this method.
Visitors are advised to avoid street gatherings and demonstrations which could place them at risk, especially if gatherings lack police permission.
The UK Foreign Office advises extreme caution if visiting north-east
Public holidays
Fixed dates
1 Jan (New Year's Day), 1 May (Labour Day), 31 Aug (National Day), 25 Dec (Christmas Day).
Holidays falling on Sunday are celebrated on the following Monday.
In addition to federal holidays, each state has 3–4 additional holidays, one of which is the birthday of its ruler.
1 Feb (City Day) is a holiday in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
Variable dates
Chinese New Year (two days), Birth of Buddha, The King's Birthday (first Sat in Jun), Divali (Hindu), Eid al Adha, Islamic New Year, Birth of the Prophet Mohammed, Eid al Fitr (two days).
In general, Hindu and Buddhist festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations.
The Islamic year contains 354 or 355 days, with the result that Muslim feasts advance by 10–12 days against the Gregorian calendar. Dates of feasts vary according to the sighting of the new moon, so cannot be forecast exactly.
Islamic year 1426: 10 February 2005 to 30 January 2006.
Working hours
As well as Friday, the Muslim weekly holiday on Thursday afternoon is observed in the states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu. Other states have a Saturday–Sunday weekend.
Banking
Mon–Fri: 1000–1500, Sat: 0930–1200 in Peninsular
Business
Mon–Thu: 0730–1645; Fri: 0730–1215, 1445–1645; Sat: 0730–1315; some variation in Sabah and
Government
Mon–Thu: 0800–1245, 1400–1615; Fri: 0800–1215, 1445–1615; Sat: 0800–1245. In Johor, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu, government offices are open from 0800–1245 on Thursday and are closed on Friday.
Shops
Usually 1000–2200 (department stores and supermarkets), 0930–1900 (shops) in Peninsular Malaysia; Mon–Sat: 0800–1830 in Sabah; Mon–Fri: 0900–1800, Sat: 0900–1300 in
Electricity supply
220V AC, 50Hz. Three-pin square plug fittings and bayonet-type light fittings are generally used.
Weights and measures
Metric system
