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Cars 4 Rental Information on Malaysia

General

Area: 329,847 sq km (127,355 sq miles).

Population: 24,530,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density: 74.4 per sq km.

Capital: Kuala Lumpur. Population: 1,410,000, including suburbs (UN estimate 2002).

GEOGRAPHY: Malaysia is situated in central South-East Asia, bordering on Thailand in the north, with Singapore and Indonesia to the south and The Philippines to the east. It is composed of Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo, 650 to 950km (404 to 600 miles) across the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia is an area of forested mountain ranges running north–south, on either side of which are low-lying coastal plains. The coastline extends some 1900km (1200 miles). The west coast consists of mangrove swamps and mudflats which separate into bays and inlets. In the west, the plains have been cleared and cultivated, while the unsheltered east coast consists of tranquil beaches backed by dense jungle. Sarawak has alluvial and, in places, swampy coastal plains with rivers penetrating the jungle-covered hills and mountains of the interior. Sabah has a narrow coastal plain which gives way to mountains and jungle. Mount Kinabalu, at 4094m (13,432ft), is the highest peak in Malaysia. The major islands are Langkawi (a group of 99 islands), Penang and Pangkor off the west coast; and Tioman, Redang, Kapas, Perhentian and Rawa off the east coast.

Government: Constitutional monarchy since 1963. Gained independence from the UK in 1957. Head of State: King Syed Sirrajuddin ibni al-Marhum Syed Putra Jamalullail since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since 2003.

Language: Bahasa Malaysia is the national and official language, but English is widely spoken. Other languages such as Chinese (Cantonese and Hokkien), Iban and Tamil are spoken by minorities.

Religion: Muslim (53 per cent) and Buddhist (19 per cent) majorities. The remainder are Christian, Taoist, Confucianist, Hindu and Animist.

Time: GMT + 8.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs and bayonet-type light fittings are generally used.

Communications:

Telephone

Full IDD is available. Country code: 60. Outgoing international code: 00. Public coin-operated phones can be found in many areas, such as supermarkets and post offices. Local calls cost 10 sen. Public cardphones can be found throughout the country. Cards can be purchased at airports, petrol stations and some shops for amounts ranging from RM3 to 50. There are currently two types – Kadfon and Unicard – and these can only be used in their appropriate phone booths.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover practically the whole country. Network operators include Celcom (website: www.celcom.com.my), DiGi (website: www.digi.com.my) and Maxis Mobile.

Fax

Centres for public use are located in the main post offices of all large towns. Most main hotels also have facilities.

Internet

ISPs include Jaring (website: www.jaring.net.my) and TMnet (website: www.tm.net.my). There are numerous Internet cafes. Hotels and hostels often have facilities.

Telegram

Telegrams can be sent from any telegraph office.

Post

There are post offices in the commercial centre of all towns, open Mon-Sat 0800-1700.

Press

The English-language dailies printed in peninsular Malaysia are the Business Times, The Edge, Malay Mail, Malaysiakini, New Straits Times, The Star and The Sun. There are also several English-language Sunday newspapers and periodicals. English-language newspapers available in Sarawak include the Borneo Post and Sarawak Tribune. English-language dailies in Sabah include the Borneo Mail, Daily Express and Sabah Times.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Ringgit (RM) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of RM1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1. The RM1000 and RM500 notes are now being phased out. Coins are in denominations of RM1, and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen. There are also many commemorative coins in various denominations which are legal tender. The Ringgit is often referred to as the Malaysian Dollar.

Currency exchange: The best currency for exchange is the Pound Sterling, but US Dollars are also widely accepted. Although all major currencies can be exchanged easily in the main tourist centres, problems may occur elsewhere. It is difficult to exchange Malaysian currency outside of Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia. All visitors need to fill in a Travellers Declaration Form (TDF); see below for details.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Accepted by all banks, hotels and large department stores. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Pounds Sterling, US Dollars or Australian Dollars.

Currency restrictions: All visitors entering Malaysia (including children) must declare amounts over RM1000 that they have in their possession (local and equivalent in foreign currencies) on a Travellers Declaration Form (TDF), which can be obtained at the airport or Malaysian embassies, high commissions and tourist offices. On departure, the TDF has to be filled in prior to immigration clearance.
The import and export of local currency is limited to RM1000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported on arrival.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Ringgit against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 6.35 6.91 6.79 7.00
$1.00= 3.80 3.80 3.80 3.80

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1500, Sat 0930-1130. Banks in Sabah open at 0800 and usually break for lunch (1200-1400).

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving within 6 days from infected areas. Those countries formerly classified as endemic by the WHO are considered by the Malaysian authorities to be infected areas.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Malaysia, although it may be required if travelling on to a cholera-infected country. However, outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia in the recent past; see the Health appendix.

3: Typhoid risk exists, especially in rural areas.

4: Malaria risk exists only in certain isolated inland regions. Urban and coastal areas are safe. The falciparum strain is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. The recommended prophylaxis is mefloquine.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Note: It is generally considered safe to drink water straight from the tap; however, as no authority is absolutely clear on this matter, the above advice is included as it reflects the necessity for caution for visitors who are unused to the Malaysian way of life.

Other risks: Hepatitis A, C and E occur and hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Epidemics of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis can occur in both urban and rural areas. Immunisation against tetanus, TB, diphtheria, hepatitis A and E is recommended. Outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis can occur.
There may be some risk of rabies in certain areas. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Health insurance is recommended. Hospitals are found in all the main cities and can deal with all major needs. Private hospitals, some managed and staffed by British-trained doctors and nurses, provide a high standard of medical care and include Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur and Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Selangor. Smaller towns and rural areas have private clinics. In an emergency, dial 999.

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Climate

Tropical without extremely high temperatures. Days are very warm, while nights are fairly cool. The main rainy season in the east runs between November and February, while August is the wettest period on the west coast. East Malaysia has heavy rains (November to February) in Sabah and in Sarawak. However, it is difficult to generalise about the country’s climate, as rainfall differs on the east and west coasts according to the prevailing monsoon winds (northeast or southwest).

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens are worn throughout the year. Waterproofing is advisable all year.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No/2 Yes
Australian Yes No/1 Yes
Canadian Yes No/1 Yes
USA Yes No/3 Yes
OtherEU Yes No/2 Yes
Japanese Yes No/3 Yes

Restricted entry: (a) Certain nationals have to apply for a visa with a reference/approval from the Immigration Department in Malaysia, rather than through an Overseas Mission in their country of residence. Foreign women who are at least 6 months pregnant (unless in transit) and people of scruffy appearance may be denied entry. (b) Nationals of Israel and Serbia & Montenegro are banned from entry into Malaysia.

PASSPORTS: A valid passport or other travel documents recognised by the Malaysian government required by all. The former must have enough pages for the embarkation stamp upon arrival and be valid for at least 6 months at date of entry. The latter should be endorsed with a valid re-entry permit. If not in possession of a passport or travel document, a Document in lieu of Passport must be obtained from any Malaysian Representation Office. Holders of travel documents such as a Certificate of Identity, a Laisser Passer, a Titre de Voyage or a Country’s Certificate of Residence must ensure guarantee of return to country which issued the documents or the national’s country of residence.

Note: All visitors must also have proof of adequate funds and an onward or return sea or air ticket.

VISAS: Most visitors (including all nationals of countries listed in the chart) do not require a visa to enter Malaysia if the period is less than 1 month and the purpose of the visit is business or social (see below for more detailed requirements). However, visas are required at all times by nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan (unless with head office approval), Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China (PR), Congo (Dem Rep), Congo (Rep), Cte D’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and holders of a UN Laisser Passer (nationals of these countries may be granted visa relaxation for transit through Malaysia for less than 120 hours, via a Malaysian international airport, if in possession of confirmed onward airline tickets to a third country before arriving). This is subject to specific criteria that varies depending on individual circumstance.
Visas are not required by the following:
(a) 1. nationals of all Commonwealth countries (except nationals of Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who do require a visa) for all purposes and durations of visits for up to 1 or 3 months;
(b) 2. nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia who do require a visa) for social visits of up to 3 months;
(c) 3. nationals of Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Iceland, Japan, Jordan, Korea (Rep), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Norway, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, the USA and Yemen for social visits of up to 3 months;
(d) nationals of Iran, Libya, the Syrian Arab Republic and holders of a Portuguese Certificate of Identity, Palestinian travel documents or a Macau Travel Permit for social visits of up to 14 days;
(e) nationals of Ireland for social visits of up to 2 months;
(f) nationals of all countries other than those mentioned above for stays of up to 1 month;
(g) nationals on transit without leaving the airport precincts and who continue their journey to the next destination with the same flight and within 24 hours.

Note: Different procedures apply according to nationality. For instance, certain nationals can only enter Malaysia through airports and not seaports. Consult the Embassy/Consulate for further details.

Types of visa and cost: Single-entry: £10 (for social and business visits of up to 3 months); Multiple-entry: £20 (for business and government matters up to 3 months; in certain cases, validity of 12 months is granted). Prices are subject to change. Enquire at the Malaysian High Commission for details.

Validity: 1 to 3 months from date of issue. Multiple-entry visas are valid for up to 3 months; in certain cases, validity of up to 12 months may be granted. Extensions are also possible. Enquire at the Malaysian High Commission for further details. Transit: 120 hours. The validity of the visa can also vary from nationality to nationality in accordance with whether a reference from the Immigration Department in obtained.

Application and enquiries to: Malaysian High Commission; see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Passport or travel documents valid for at least 6 months. (b) Two identical passport-size photos. (c) Fee (payable in cash or postal order only). (d) Two completed and signed forms. (e) Proof of sufficient funds (including original and photocopy of most recent bank statement). (f) Onward or return ticket or travel itinerary from travel agent. (g) Compulsory yellow fever vaccination certificate for all visitors coming from infected areas as listed by WHO in the last 6 months. (h) Letter of introduction (and copy) from applicant’s employer, college or university. For the spouse who is not working, a marriage certificate, photocopy of other spouse’s passport and a letter of introduction from their spouse's employer must be submitted. (i) Completed Arrival/Departure card. (j) Self-addressed envelope (recorded delivery) if applying by post. Student: (a)-(j) and, (k) Letter of acceptance from Government of private educational institutions, a student name list, a covering letter for applications of a Student Pass from educational institutions and a stamped personal bond duty. Applications must not be applied directly to the Immigration Department.

Note: (a) Family members of a Student Pass holder should submit proof of family relationship. If person lives in a country with no Malaysian representative, that person may enter on a Visit Pass and then must apply to State Immigration Office within 1 month. (b) Wives of Malaysian nationals must submit photocopy of national's ID card, national's Citizenship Certificate (if applicable), national's birth certificate, marriage certificate, letter of Declaration of Marriage certified by the Commissioner of Oaths, 2 photos of husband and wife, wedding family photo, wedding invitation card (if applicable), one photocopy of divorce certificate (if divorced prior to marriage) and a security bond. (c) Spouses and children of holders of Temporary Employment Visit passes must submit proof of relationship and proof of holder's Temporary Employment Visit pass. (d) Those travelling on transit visas can only enter at the following airports: Kuala Lumpur International; Bayan Lepas; Senai; Kota Kinabalu; Kucing; or via sea ports on cruise ships ('through passenger' only). They must also ensure that they enter and exit at the same Entry/Exit point.

Working days required: Same day – morning submission of the application (0915-1215) and afternoon collection (1530-1630). Times apply to the Malaysian High Commission in London. Applications by post take approximately 2 weeks. Students who apply for a student pass on arrival will usually obtain one within 2 weeks.

Temporary residence (Special pass for employment): Those wishing to take up employment should apply for a job in advance. Their prospective employers should then apply on their behalf for a Professional or Employment Pass by contacting the Malaysian Immigration Head Office, Block I, Pusat Bandar Damansara, Bukit Damansutra, 50550 Kuala Lumpur (tel: (3) 2095 5077; fax: (3) 2092 4869; website: www.imi.gov.my). For further details contact the Malaysian High Commission (see Contact Addresses section).

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