Destination travel guide for Malaysia
No visa is needed for Australians for social/business visits not exceeding one month.
Regulations are subject to change.
Travelers have very little to worry about in a country where health standards are ranked amongst the highest in Asia. Vaccinations are not required to enter Malaysia unless you are coming from a "yellow" infected area.
Malaysia, being an equatorial country, experiences afternoon rain showers throughout the year, which cools the day. However, during the North-East monsoon between the months of December through February, there will be an increase in the frequency of these showers. Also check out our weather webpage.
As Malaysia’s climate is hot and humid almost all year round, it is ideal to have light clothing to be worn throughout the year. It is also advisable for ladies, when entering mosques and temples, to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts.
Standard Malaysia time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 7 hours ahead of summer and 8 hours ahead of winter.
Whether you are in a hurry to get to your destination or you wish to take things leisurely, there is a wide choice of transportation to suit your needs. By air, you can travel with Malaysia Airlines domestic flights. By rail, Keretapi Tanah MelayuBerhad (KTM) of Malaysian Railways has an impressive rail network that stretches from North to South and East to West throughout Peninsula Malaysia. Buses and taxis are also available throughout Malaysia. There are also transfer services with drivers readily available.
Bahasa Malaysia is the national and official language. English is widely used especially in commerce and industry. Several Chinese and Indian dialects are also spoken.
Malaysians are friendly, and travelling alone is generally safe and relatively comfortable for both men and women. Plan your trip around your interests and prepare yourself to be flexible enough
to take the inevitable glitches in stride. Visitors who encounter unforeseen problems and difficulties can seek the Malaysian
Tourist Police Unit or any other Police Station for assistance.
Useful phrases:
- Bula (boo-la): friendly form of greeting
- Vinaka (vee-naka): thank you
- Moce (mothay): goodbye
- Koro: village (i.e. koroniYanuca: Yanuca village)
- Sega nalega (senga-na-lenga): you’re welcome; no worries
- Turanga (too-ranga): male
- Marama: female
- Loo (British): toilet
Malaysia’s electrical supply is 220 - 240 volts A C at 50 cycles per second, though our sockets and plug points may seem strange to you.
Medical services are available in all towns at government run hospitals and private clinics. Non-prescription drugs are available at pharmacies as well as supermarkets, hotels, and shopping centres. International class hotels also have their individual in-house medical practitioner to service their guests.
In major cities, towns and resorts, tap water is generally safe to drink.
An airport tax of RM5.00 and RM40.00 will be charged upon departure for all domestic and international flight passengers respectively.
Lockers are available for luggage storage at the airport.
You will require an international driving permit or a valid license issued by your government to drive in Malaysia. Car rental can be arranged through hotel or through various car rental companies which can be located through the Yellow Pages Directory. Major international car rental companies are also available in Malaysia.
Items such as video equipment, cameras, radio cassette players, watches, pens, lighters, perfumes and cosmetics are duty free in Malaysia. Visitors bringing in dutiable goods may have to pay a deposit for temporary importation, refundable upon departure.
To avoid "cultural offences", here are some tips: "Remove shoes when entering homes and places of worship. "Dress neatly in suitable attire which covers arms and legs when visiting places of worship. "When handling food, do so with the right hand only. "Tipping is not a custom in Malaysia. It is unnecessary in hotels and restaurants where a 10% service charge is imposed, unless the service rendered is exceptionally good. Refrain from raising your voice or displaying fits of anger as considered ill mannered.
It is advisable for you to contact the Malaysian Diplomatic Mission nearest you for up-to-date information concerning the importation of pets from your country. Various airline companies may also be able to help you with this.
It is good idea for you to take medical insurance before you travel to Malaysia as Malaysia does not have reciprocal health service agreements with other nations.
There are licensed money changers in all major towns in Malaysia. Most are found in commercial districts and at shopping malls. The rates are very reasonable. You can check exchange rates in the local newspapers. Most large establishments will accept internationally known credit cards and charge cards, though we do advise caution. Travellers cheques are best cashed at banks for the best rates.