Travel Tool

ESSENTIALS : PASSPORT / VISA

Visitors to Malaysia must hold a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period.

Most nationalities do not require visas for social or business visits. For further information, please contact the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission or Tourism Malaysia office.

Visit the Malaysian Immigration Department's website
Or Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia website.

Set in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is easily accessible from most parts of the world by air, surface and sea links.

Over 45 international airlines fly into the country while national carrier Malaysia Airlines has a global network that spans six continents and a national network that covers more than 36 local destinations.

AirAsia, Malaysia's budget airline also services certain domestic and regional routes.

ESSENTIALS : TRANSPORTATION

BY AIR
Most visitors arrive by air at one of the six international airports in Malaysia. The main gateway is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang in the state of Selangor. The rest of the country, including Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan in East Malaysia, is well serviced by 14 domestic airports and airstrips.

Located about 50km from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur (KL), the fully computerised, state-of the-art KLIA is among the most modern airports in the world. KLIA is a four-runway airport facility capable of handling an initial 25 million passengers per annum with facilities for expansion to 45 million passengers per annum.

Incorporated into the airport's design is an automated shuttle system which links the satellite building, where passengers disembark, to the airport terminal building, where immigration and customs clearances take place. With a connection time of a mere two minutes, this fully automated baggage and passenger clearance system is especially efficient.

Within the airport terminal building, there are rest, recreation, dining, and duty-free shopping facilities. The fitness centre at the Hotel Airside Transit even comes with a well-equipped gym, steam room and sauna. Just a mere 5-minute walk from the airport is the luxurious 5-star Pan Pacific Hotel.

From KLIA, KL is a short 28-minute journey away on the comfortable KLIA Ekspres, a high-speed rail service. By road, visitors may travel via the ELITE highway or the North-South Expressway. The North-South Expressway also links the main towns on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Car rental, bus, coach, taxi, limousine and rail services into Kuala Lumpur and neighbouring towns are widely available at the airport.

BY SEA
Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia are easily accessible via sea ports. Located just outside the capital city of Kuala Lumpur (KL) on the west coast of the Peninsular, Port Klang is Malaysia’s largest modern sea port. With excellent harbourage, it is also a major shipping and cargo terminal. Other major sea ports are located on the islands of Penang and Langkawi, in the north of the Peninsular; at Johor to the south; at Kuantan on the East Coast; and at Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.

Westport on Pulau Indah
Already serviced by North Port and South Port, Port Klang is now serviced by the new international harbour city - Westport located on the island of Pulau Indah. A free trade zone, Pulau Indah is currently being developed as an industrial, commercial, residential, recreational and tourism hub with a marina and resorts.

Stretching over 11km, with a natural depth of 14-18 metres, Westport is designed to be a high-tech regional port. It has a container terminal, large warehouse area and commercial centre. Star Cruise Terminal - the largest cruise ship terminal in the Asia-Pacific region - is also situated here. Star Cruise is a major international leisure cruise line that calls at Penang, Port Klang, Melaka and Langkawi.

FerryLink operates a vehicular ferry service from Changi Point in Singapore to Tanjung Belungkor on the southern coastline of the Peninsular. Tanjung Belungkor is the gateway to the popular beach resort of Desaru. There are four daily trips on weekdays and eight daily trips on weekends. For reservations, please call 02-545 3600 (Changi Point) or 07-252 7408 (Bandar Penawar, Johor).

BY ROAD AND RAIL
Located 48km north of Alor Star in the northern state of Kedah, Bukit Kayu Hitam is the main entry point into Malaysia for visitors from Thailand. The North-South Expressway links Bukit Kayu Hitam to Kuala Lumpur – 490km away. Near the Malaysian immigration and customs post are restaurants, shops, car parks and a duty-free shopping complex.

For more information, visit http://www.ktmb.com.my/

Situated on the main rail route with a daily train service from Bangkok, Padang Besar - in Malaysia's northernmost state of Perlis - is another entry point. Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) or Malayan Railway provides an international express from Butterworth to Haadyai in Thailand, and regular services from Padang Besar to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur.

The exclusive Eastern and Oriental Express also romances the route from Bangkok to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur. Covering the entire length of the Peninsular - over 2,000 km, this two-day journey has frequent stops at scenic locations.

For more information, visit http://www.orient-express.com/

For visitors entering from the Singapore, Johor Bahru is the main southern entry point. The North-South Expressway links Johor Bahru with Kuala Lumpur - 220km to the north. A rail and road causeway connects Johor Bahru to Singapore. Immigration and customs checkpoints are based at the entrance to the Causeway. A second bridge links Tanjung Kupang - 30km south-west of Johor Bahru - to Tuas in Singapore.

ESSENTIALS : TROPICAL HEALTH

DEHYDRATION & SUNBURN
The sun is strong throughout the year in the country. Proper care against sunburn must be constantly taken. Dehydration and loss of salt through perspiration are two other common problems for the unprepared traveller. Drink plenty of fluids and replace your salt loss. Make sure you pack clothing suitable for a warm humid climate.

MOSQUITOES
Due to the constant humid climate, mosquitoes tend to be present throughout the year. The three most significant diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are Malaria, Dengue Fever and Japanese B Encephalitis. To repel mosquitoes, ticks and other arthropods, apply an insect repellent containing DEET to your skin or clothing.

The risk of malaria for most tourists visiting Peninsular Malaysia is extremely small. There is insignificant risk in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and other major cities. However, in East Malaysia, the risk of malaria is present throughout the year. Even in these regions, the risk is mainly off the coastal plains and towards the border areas. Generally, prophylaxis is recommended for those visiting Sabah or Sarawak.

YELLOW FEVER
There is no risk of yellow fever in Malaysia. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry if you are coming from countries in South America or sub-Saharan Africa.

FOOD
Generally, the level of food hygiene throughout the country is high. However, make sure your food and drinking water are safe. Food from street vendors should be treated with care. Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. If possible, avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. Bring along iodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. Also, wash your hands often with soap and water. As an extra precaution, bring along anti-diarrhoea medication and an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor to self-treat moderate to severe diarrhoea.

VACCINATIONS
Recommended vaccines:Poliomyelitis (childhood booster), Tetanus (childhood booster), Typhoid (food & water borne diseases), Hepatitis A (food & water borne diseases).

For those venturing outside cities and towns, further recommended vaccines are Hepatitis B, Rabies, Japanese B Encephalitis, Tuberculosis and Meningitis. For those visiting Sabah and Sarawak, Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended.

Weather
rainy, cloudy, windy or sunny? Find out what is Malaysia's current weather update.

Language
Not quite making progress communication wise? Not to worry, here are a few simple everyday phrases that might come in handy!

Basic Words & Phrases
English	Malay
Yes	Ya
No	Tidak
Thank you	Terima kasih
Thank you very much	Terima kasih banyak-banyak
You're welcome	Sama-sama
Please	Tolong
Excuse me	Minta maaf
Goodbye	Selamat tinggal
See you again	Jumpa lagi
Good morning	Selamat pagi
Good afternoon	Selamat tengahari
Good evening	Selamat petang
Good night	Selamat malam
Welcome	Selamat datang

I do not understand	Saya tidak faham
Do you speak ...	Adakah anda bertutur...
English	Bahasa Inggeris
French	Bahasa Perancis
German	Bahasa Jerman
Spanish	Bahasa Sepanyol
Chinese	Bahasa Cina

I	Saya
We	Kami
You (singular)	Anda / Awak / Kamu
You (plural)	Kamu semua
They	Mereka
What is your name?	Apa nama anda?
How are you?	Apa khabar?
I'm fine	Saya baik
I'm not so well	Saya kurang sihat

Wife	Isteri
Husband	Suami
Daughter	Anak perempuan
Son	Anak lelaki
Mother	Ibu / Emak
Father	Bapa / Ayah
Friend	Kawan

Where is the bathroom/toilet?	Tandas di mana?
Want	Nak
Need	Perlu

ATM Locator
Search for the nearest Auto Teller Machine (ATM) near you.

Card Types

Do's & Dont's
Guidelines you should adhere to when in Malaysia.

DO's

Do smile when you greet people. It is normal to see people in the tourist industry to greet visitors by placing their right hand over the left breast. It means “I greet you from my heart”.
Do dress neatly when entering places of worship. It is advisable for ladies, when entering places of worship to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts.
Do remove your shoes when entering homes and places of worship.
Do point with the thumb of your right hand, fingers folded and not with the forefinger.
Do wait until you're in Malaysia to convert most of your currency. A special permit is needed to bring large amounts of ringgit (Malaysia's currency) into or out of the country. There are no restrictions for foreign money.
Do help preserve reefs and beaches by leaving coral and shells where you find them.
Do pay careful attention to your attire if you're female: Wearing hot pants and vests on the islands where Malaysians are used to foreigners is fine, but it may invite harassment elsewhere. At mainland beaches, bring a wrap-around as well as a swimsuit so you won't feel conspicuous; Malay women usually go swimming fully dressed and some keep their scarves on. While you wouldn't be expected to do the same, it's best not to draw attention.

DON'Ts

Don't touch the head of an adult.
Don't kiss anyone in public - not romantically anyway. It has become fashionable in Kuala Lumpur (but not in other parts of the country) to kiss friends hello and goodbye as is done in Europe.
Don't point the bottom of your feet at anyone.
Don't offer to shake hands unless you know that your acquaintances are fairly Westernized. Even then, let them offer to shake first. Never shake hands with women unless they offer to do so first.
Don't bring up the topic of ethnic relations in Malaysia or the political system: They are both sensitive subjects.
Don't even think about buying or transporting illegal drugs - there's a mandatory death penalty for trafficking (possession of 200 grams of marijuana is considered to be trafficking).

Dialing Codes
A listing for Malaysia's dialling codes.

Telephone codes:	Code
Malaysia's country code	60
Kuala Lumpur	03
Selangor	03
Perlis	04
Kedah	04
Penang	04
Perak	05
Melaka	06
Negri Sembilan	06
Johor	07
Kelantan	09
Terengganu	09
Pahang	09
Kuching	082
Miri, Sarawak	085
Labuan	087
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah	088
Singapore from Malaysia	02

Schedule/Timetable
Travel with assurance while you browse through our transportation schedule section.

Travel Tips
Unsure of what's appropriate and what's not? Here are a few travel tips to guide you!.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Malaysian Ringgit indicated as RM, which is equivalent to 100 cents. Coins are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 sen and RM1. Currency notes are in RM1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Foreign currency and traveler's checks can be converted to Malaysian Ringgit at banks or authorized money changers throughout the country.

Telephone

Local calls can be made from public phones, whether coin or card operated. International calls can be made from phone booths with card phone facilities or at any Telecom offices. Most hotels are equipped with IDD services with a minimal service charge. - Useful Phone Directory

Tourist Police

Visitors who encounter unforeseen problems and difficulties can seek the Malaysian Tourist Police Unit for assistance. They often patrol tourist spots and will render assistance, as well as safeguard tourists' security.

Business Hours

The country runs on a normal eight hours a day system with Saturday as half day and Sunday as a day of rest. In the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah, Friday is a day of rest with Thursday as half days. Department Stores and supermarkets are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Drug traffickers are sentenced to death by Malaysian Law.

Tipping

Tipping is not a way of life in Malaysia, but is fast becoming one.

What to Wear

Light, cool, and casual clothing is recommended all year round. For more formal occasions, men should wear jackets, ties, or long-sleeved batik shirts whereas women should wear dresses.

Water

It is generally safe to drink water straight from the tap, but it is safer to drink boiled water or bottled beverages.

Medical Services

Medical services are available in most towns at government hospitals and private clinics. Non-prescription drugs are available at pharmacies, as well as supermarkets, hotels, and shopping centers.

Local Touch

Food hawkers selling traditional and local delicacies make up the everyday scenes in big or small towns throughout the country. One can try "teh tarik", a smoothened, creamed tea, and "roti canai", a fluffy pancake prepared by a local person of Indian Muslim ancestry. Spicy Malay food, such as "nasi lemak" and various kinds of Chinese noodles are also popular. People from all walks of life frequent these food stalls.

As Malaysia is a multi-religious country, various Muslim mosques, Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, and Christian churches can be found almost anywhere. Despite the many changes and developments in the cities and big towns, Malaysia has many "kampung" (villages), jungles, beaches, and rice fields. Many houses in the "kampung" are built on stilts. Batik cotton fashion is popular in Malaysia . It can be used for casual wear, as well as formal functions.

Essentials