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Kuala Lumpur Basics

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Time

Time: GMT +8.

Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plugs are used.

Money: The Malaysian Ringit (MYR), also referred to as the Malaysian Dollar, is divided into 100 sen. Malaysian banks charge in the region of US$2-3 for foreign exchange transactions. Moneychangers are generally quicker to deal with and do not charge commission; their rates however are variable. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks and some hotels. All major credit cards are accepted at upmarket hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are widely available.


Currency Exchange Rates
MYR 1.00 = A$ 0.37 C$ 0.31 IRR 2.62 NZ$ 0.43 £ 0.16 US$ 0.29 R 2.42

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: Bahasa Melayu is the national language, but English is widely spoken and is the language of business. Cantonese, Hokkien and Hakka are spoken by Malaysias Chinese population and Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi among the Indian population.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements for Americans: US citizens must have a valid passport. No visas are required for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport, but do not require a visa, irrespective of the endorsement in the passport with regard to national status, providing the stay does not exceed three months and is for touristic purposes.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to two months (an extension of one month is available).
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport, but do not require a visa for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealand nationals must hold a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.

Passport/Visa Note: Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry. All travellers require a return or onward ticket, and sufficient funds (at least US$500). Entry will be refused to those of a 'hippy' appearance and foreign women who are six months pregnant or more. Dual nationality is not recognised in Malaysia and those found holding two passports of different nationalities may be refused entry; it is advisable to enter Malaysia on the passport on which you exited your last country of departure.

Health: Some tropical illnesses are prevalent in Malaysia and travellers should seek medical advice regarding any recommended vaccinations before travelling. Hepatitis A and B are common, as is dengue fever, which has no vaccination or immunisation. There has been an increase in cases of dengue fever since January 2005. Malaria risks are isolated to the inland regions; the exception is Sabah, where there is an all-year risk. Dysentery and travellers' diarrhoea afflict travellers in Malaysia; visitors should stick to bottled water and avoid uncooked meat, fish and vegetables, unpeeled fruit, ice and salads. A further health hazard in Malaysia is smoke haze and air pollution, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, which has the worst air quality in Asia with very high Benzene pollution levels. This could aggravate cardiac or respiratory problems. There were outbreaks of bird flu in 2004 in poultry in the Kelantan State, but no human infections have been reported. Although the risk is very low, travellers should avoid contact with domestic, caged or wild birds and ensure that poultry and egg dishes are well cooked. The hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and other cities are of a high standard. Medical insurance is recommended. Travellers older than one year coming from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Tipping: Although tipping is not customary in Malaysia, the more expensive hotels and restaurants add a 10 % service charge to their bills and further gratuity is unnecessary. All hotel rooms are subject to a 5% government tax, though many cheaper hotels quote a price inclusive of this tax.

Safety: Malaysia shares with the rest of South East Asia a threat from terrorism, including places frequented by Westerners. The US State Department updated its warning in November 2003 and stressed extra caution in the troubled eastern Malaysia state of Sabah, where the risk of kidnapping is high. Terrorists are believed to be planning to kidnap foreign tourists from the islands and coastal areas of Eastern Sabah and boats travelling to dive sites and between the islands are possible targets. Tourists wishing to visit the resorts and islands in the state should stick to larger resorts and exercise extreme caution. Visitors should be aware that street crime such as bag snatching, pick-pocketing and scams are a problem. Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in many parts of Johor in the south of the country, and visitors to the south should check on the latest situation before travel.

Customs: Malaysia is largely Muslim and therefore Islamic customs should be respected, especially during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking in public should be avoided, as it is forbidden by Islamic law. Dress, particularly for women, should be conservative, and arms and legs should be covered when visiting places of worship. It is customary to remove shoes before entering homes and places of worship. When eating or exchanging money, the right hand is used. Homosexuality is illegal.

Business: Business is conducted in a formal and professional manner in Malaysia. Business dress is formal; though due to the heat, lightweight materials are best and jackets can be removed. When in doubt, dress conservatively and be aware that yellow is the colour reserved for royalty and should be avoided. Malaysians should be greeted using the full name and title. Business cards should be given and received using both hands and should be treated with respect. Handshakes are fairly common, though one should wait to see if greeted with a hand, or a namaste - a traditional greeting of a small bow accompanied by hands clasped as if in prayer. Visitors should return the greeting. Business hours can vary, but are usually from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturdays. Some businesses follow an Islamic week and are therefore are open Sundays to Thursdays.

Communications: The international access code for Malaysia is +60. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the United States). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)3 for Kuala Lampur. International Direct Dial is available throughout the country, but the service can be erratic. Hotels can add a hefty surcharge to their telephone bills; it is best to check before making long international calls. Coin and card-operated public phones are widespread, and phone cards can be purchased at the airport, petrol stations and newsagents. Cards are not transferable between phone companies: Uniphone and Telekom phone boxes are the most common. Mobile networks cover most of the country; the local mobile phone operators use GSM networks, which are compatible with most international phones. Internet cafes are widely available in tourist areas.

Duty free: Travellers to Malaysia do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g tobacco; 1 litre wine, spirits or malt liquor; 100 matches; cosmetic products to the value of RM200; up to three new items of clothing and one pair of footwear; one portable electrical or battery-operated appliance for personal hygiene; food preparations to the value of RM75; souvenirs and gifts to the value of RM200 (with the exception of goods from Langkawi and Labuan, to the value of RM500). Prohibited items include goods from South Africa and Israel, counterfeit money, and illegal drugs.