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Malaysia Destination Guides > Facts for The Visitors

PLANNING
Light, cool, and casual clothing is recommended all year round.

VISAS AND DOCUMENTS
Commonwealth citizens and most European nationals do not need visas for visits of less than three months. Upon arrival, visitors are usually issued with an extendable 30 or 60-day visa.

CUSTOMS
Items such as cameras, watches, pens, portable radio-cassette players, perfume, cosmetics and lighters are duty-free in Malaysia. Visitors bringing in dutiable goods may have to pay a deposit for temporary importation, this is refundable on departure and is usually 50% of the value, but it is necessary to produce the receipt of purchase and obtain an official receipt for any tax or deposit paid.

MONEY
The unit of currency is the Malaysian Ringgit and this is indicated as RM. 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 moneychangers throughout the country. Bank hours in most states are Mon-Fri: 9:30am-4.00pm, Sat: 9:30am-11: 30am, Sun: Closed. In Kelantan and Terengganu the working week is a little different: Sat-Wed: 9:30am-4.00pm, Thur : 9:30am-11.30am, Fri : Closed

POST AND COMMUNICATIONS
Local calls can be made from coin or card operated public phones. International calls can be made from phone booths with card phone facilities, or at any Telecom offices. Most hotels are equipped with IDD services.

BOOKS
Culture Shock Malaysia, by JoAnn Craig; God's Dust by Ian Buruma; A Short History of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei, by C Mary Turnbull; A Stroll Through Borneo, by James Barclay; Borneo Stories by Somerset Maugham; The Malayan Trilogy by Anthony Burgess; The Consul’s File by Paul Theroux; Turtle Beach Blanche d'Alpuget.

ELECTRICITY
220-240V, 50 Hz

TIME
Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of the U.S. Pacific Standard Times.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Metric

HEALTH
Health risks in Malaysia are Dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, and rabies

DANGERS
Drug traffickers are sentenced to death by Malaysian Law.

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.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Major Holidays: New Year's Day- 1st January, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri- January, Chinese New Year- January/February, Labor Day- 1st May, Vesak Day- May, The King's Birthday- June, August 31 - National Day, Deepavali- October/November, Christmas Day- 25th December. The major Islamic events are connected with Ramadan and the major Malaysian festival is Hari Raya Puasa, which marks the end of Ramadan with three days of joyful celebrations. Hari Raya Haji marks the successful completion of the pilgrimage to Mecca with a two-day feast of cakes and sweets. The Chinese New Year is welcomed in with dances, parades and lots of festivities. The festival of Thaipusam is one of the most dramatic Hindu festivals (now banned in India) during which devotees honor Lord Subramaniam with acts of amazing masochism. The Kota Belud Tamu Besar is a huge tribal gathering that includes a massive market, traditional ceremonies, ornately decorated horsemen, medicine men and tribal handicrafts.

FOOD
The food or Malaysia is as diverse and varied as its culture, with a great selection of Indian, Malay, Chinese, Peranakan and Eurasian food. . Each state has its own specialized dishes as well as different means of preparation and variations in taste. There is a huge variety of wonderful tropical fruits and fruit juices available and restaurants in the large hotels also offer international cuisine from countries such as Japan, Korea, France and Italy. Meanwhile, street food is widely available throughout Malaysia with food hawkers selling traditional and local delicacies in big and small towns throughout the country. "Teh tarik", is a smoothened, creamed tea, and "roti canai" is a fluffy pancake of Indian Muslim origin. 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. Satays (meat kebabs in spicy peanut sauce) are a Malaysian creation and they're found everywhere. Other dishes include fried soybean curd in peanut sauce, sour tamarind fish curry, and spiced curry prawns or meat in coconut marinade. Famous, and unique, sweets include include endol (a mixture of sugar syrup, coconut milk and green noodles) and is kacang (beans and jellies topped with shaved ice, syrups and condensed milk).

ENTERTAINMENT
Most of the nighttime entertainment in Malaysia is in hotel lounges and clubs. Pubs and bars are generally located in the suburbs and may be hard to find. The clubs feature live music performances in styles ranging from jazz, to piano/singer acts, to popular music and singers. Pubs close around 11pm, but discos and nightclubs usually stay open until 2am. Some have live bands and light shows but often require cover charges or drink minimums. Cabarets, or "kelab malam" offer a Fifties-style atmosphere, often with variety acts, floorshows and bands.

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