MALAYSIA

CREST & FLAG

National Day August 31

CURRENCY

Currency Malaysian Ringgit MYR

VISA

Most Travelers don't need a visa. Contact your local Malaysian Embassy, travel agent or Immigration for more details. Don't forget to check what the immigration stamps in your passport.

DRUGS

Drug trafficking in Malaysia carries a mandatory death sentence.

DID-INTERNET-GMT

DID 00

Country Code (60)

Internet (my)

GMT + 8

ELECTRICITY

240 V 50 HZ

HOTELS

More on Malaysia

by (Encyclopedia.com)

FACTS & DATA

State: Kingdom

Head of State: King

Prime Minister: Head of Government

Currency: Ringgit (MYR)

Location: Malaysian Peninsular and East Malaysia

Area: 329.6 sq. km (126.9 sq.m.)

Temperature: 21-34 C

Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Population: 23,3 mio

People: Malay (46.5%), Chinese (32%), Indian (8.1%), Other (13.4%)
Language: Malayu, Chinese, Tamil, English

Religion: Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Christian

GDP: US$ billion

GNP per capita: US$ 3.248

Annual growth: 8,1

Inflation: 1.8%
Major industries: high-tech, electronics, cocoa, pal moil, rubber, oil, gas, tourism
Major trading partners: USA, EU, Japan, ASEAN

Health risks: Good healthcare
Time: GMT +8

Electricity: 220-240V
Weights & measures: Metric

Road traffic: Left side

Public transport: major cities good

PUBLICATIONS

NEWSPAPERS

Malayu

Berita Harian/ Minggu

Harakah Daily

Chinese

Kwong Wah Yit Poh & Penang Sin Poe

Nanyang Siang Pau

English

Business Times

Malay Mail

New Straits Times

The Star

TV & RADIO

RTM TV1 & 2

TV3

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITIES

Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology

International College Penang

International Islamic University Malaysia

Northern University of Malaysia

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Universiti Malaya

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Universiti Pertanian Malaysia

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Don't miss the lovely range of tropical fruits from bananas to guava

DIPLOMAS

Monash University Malaysia

HOTEL & TOURISM

Reliance College

EDUCATION CENTERS

Australian International School Malaysia (AISM)

Deutsche Schule Kuala Lumpur

Lyc�e Fran�ais de Kuala Lumpur

International Islamic School (IIS)

International School of Kuala Lumpur

Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur

Kinabalu International School (KIS)

Malacca Expatriate School

International School of Penang

AIR, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has direct links with most major airports in the region as well as America, Africa, Europe and Middle East. From KLIA are plenty of connection to domestic destinations. Customs and Immigration formalities have to be done in Kuala Lumpur. Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu have direct flights to some Asian cities. ROAD, there are direct road connections to Singapore and Thailand. The North South Toll Highway makes driving to Thailand, Penang, Ipoh, Malacca, Johor Bahru and Singapore pretty easy. NOTE, due to immigration and customs formalities certain periods can create big jams at the Thai and Singapore border. BOAT, cruise lines and ferry services connect Malaysia with Thailand and Indonesia as well as East Malaysia.

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Travel

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Transport

PLUS (Operator of the North South Highway) Malaysian Railway

Ambulance 999 | Fire 994| IPolice 999 |

In the state of Kedah are findings of a Hindu-Buddhist civilization dating back to 300 AD. Foreign powers have been in Malaysia over the years due to it's strategic position. 1511 came the Portuguese, 1641 the Dutch and finally the British in 1815 until it's independence in 1957. The Federation of Malaya comprising peninsula Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore came in 1963. In 1963 Singapore left the federation to start on it's own. Malaysia is still a member of the British Commonwealth. Malaysia consists of 13 states and has approximate 23 million people, consisting of the three major races Malay, Chinese and Indians. Mainly East Malaysia has a considerable number of tribal races. The capital is Kuala Lumpur, whereby the government has relocated to Putrajaya.

Malaysia offers a very wide range of activities. Sightseeing, museums, exhibitions, caves, skyscrapers, jungle tracking, whitewater rafting and golf. You will find beautiful beaches just for sunbathing or any type of water sport. Sabah and Sarawak the northern part of Borneo offer a wide variety of wildlife and tracking. Labuan is the financial offshore island north of Sarawak.

Malaysia has some of the most beautiful diving and scuba diving places in Sabah and Sarawak. To mention a few Sipadan, Mabul Island and Lankayan Islands in Sabah. in Sarawak you find outside the city of Miri the Luconia Shoals, Tocow and Siwa Shoals and the Batu Mat Reef. you will find a fantastic marine and coral life. Even WW2 shipwrecks can be found.

Kuala Lumpur is a former tin mine settlement grown into the capital of Malaysia. It's fairly new skyline is very impressive. KL (as the local calls it) is a modern city offering all modern amenities you expect from a big town. Since 2 years it is the business and cultural city of Malaysia.

Putrajaya is the new government capital of Malaysia built on former tin mine and plantation grounds. The 4,581 ha garden city is declared a federal territory. Within the same area you find the high tech city Cyberjaya the heart of the Multi Media Corridor.

Malacca and Penang are probably the most famous cities with a long heritage under various colonial masters, they were both important trading cities dating back to the 15th century. They are the origin of the Baba and Pranakan tradition.

Johor Bahru is a former trading post at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsular. Singapore can be reach via the causeway.

Kuantan has its origin as the eastern trading point towards Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and was an active fishing village. It is surrounded by lovely beaches and an idyllic landscape.

Eating in Malaysia is a true gastronomic pleasure. Local food consists of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and nonya cuisine and can be found throughout the country in most restaurants and hotels.
	The so called hawker-stalls alongside the streets are however the favorite eating places for the local people. It's good, has endless varieties and it's cheap. A fried noodle dish with a glass of fresh lime juice don't hurt your pocket more than US$ 0.80-1.00. Try dishes like the local version of the famous spring roll called poh piah is a must. Try dishes like laksa, roti canai, satay, nasi lemak, nasi kandar, tandoori chicken, wide variety of noodle dishes like wan than mee, char koay teow, loh mee or chicken rice. A very popular local desert is ais kacang.
	You will find good foreign cuisine as well, like French, Italian, Japanese and Korean. Fast food like burgers are plenty available!!! Due its tropical location you will find a fruit paradise. You will find guava, mango, papaya, pineapple, bananas, rambutan, pomelo, melon, orange and mangustine. Durian, a stinking fruit, some say it taste great and is almost considered a holy fruit among the locals.

Popular drinks are a wide range of fresh fruit juices, cola, ice lemon tea and the famous teh tarik (hot tea) . Malaysia grows own tea on Cameron Highlands (BOH tea) and in East Malaysia. Anchor, Tiger and Carlsberg beer is locally brewed. You will find imported beer as well.

The big cities like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang have a very western style night entertainment. Pubs, bars and discos are everywhere and enjoyed equally by locals as travelers from near and far. THE NIGHT LIFE is more hidden in Malaysia, but girls can be found in quite a few places. Ask the local guys, they know it to well. SPG's Sarong Party Girls are a common sight in most disco's.