Malaysia At a Glance

Intro

Malaysia At a Glance

COUNTRY

The federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsular Malaysia, which is made up of 11 states, three Federal Territories as well as the states of Sabah  and Sarawak situated in Borneo.

CLIMATE

Malaysia has a tropical climate and the weather is warm all year round. Temperatures range from 21ºC to 32ºC and the annual rainfall varies from 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm.

ELECTRICITY

The voltage used throughout Malaysia is 220 – 240 volts AC, at 50 cycles per second. Standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets are used.

CAPITAL CITY

Kuala Lumpur

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Manufacturing constitutes the largest component of Malaysia’s economy while tourism and primary commodities such as petroleum, palm oil, natural rubber and timber are major contributors to its economy.

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Malaysia is linked internationally via the Internet. There is a stable 4G mobile network coverage in the country. Wi-Fi connection is available at most  hotels, restaurants and transport terminals. Upon arrival, travellers can easily get a local prepaid SIM card at airports or shopping malls. The package comes with preloaded credit and data. Travellers will be required to present their passport/ID for registration when purchasing the SIM cards.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Lying 2º to 7º north of the Equator, Peninsular Malaysia is separated from Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. The Peninsular shares a  common border with Thailand in the north, while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak share a common border with Indonesia  while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei Darussalam.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Visitors must be in possession of a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period.  Citizens of most countries do not require visas for social or business visits. For further information, please visit or call the nearest Malaysian  diplomatic mission or Tourism Malaysia office.

GETTING TO MALAYSIA

The main gateway to Malaysia is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) which is also known as KLIA Terminal 1. It is located about 40  km south of Kuala Lumpur. Over 40 international airlines fly into the country via KLIA. Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier, is a member  of the one world airline alliance and offers connectivity to 1,000 destinations over 170 territories.

KLIA Terminal 2 (formerly known as KLIA 2), is situated about 1.5 km away from the main terminal and serves as the world’s largest terminal  dedicated to low-cost carriers. Airlines that operate from Terminal 2 include AirAsia and AirAsia X. Other international airports in the country are situated in Langkawi, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Skypark Terminal or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang is the main base for Firefly, Batik Air and private carriers.

The country’s largest seaport is Port Klang, a major shipping and cargo terminal. Other main entry points by sea are located in Langkawi, Penang, Melaka, Johor, Labuan, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

AREA

329,758 sq km

CURRENCY

The unit of currency is the Malaysian Ringgit, which is denoted as RM or MYR. Foreign  currencies can be converted at banks and money changers. Transactions can be carried out using the Malaysian currency or via credit cards and  online banking services. Of late, cashless transactions such as e-wallets and mobile  payments have grown in popularity. Cashless transactions can be found in most establishments in the cities.

GETTING AROUND

Malaysia has excellent domestic air links serviced by Malaysia Airlines as well as carriers such as AirAsia, Firefly and Batik Air. The country has a  well-developed and efficient public transportation system served by buses, taxis as well as trains. GrabCar and other e-hailing services are available in Malaysia.

TIME

The standard Malaysian time is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of the U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

BANKING HOURS

In most states, banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9.15 am to 4.30 pm. In Kelantan and Terengganu, banks are closed on Friday and  Saturday. Check the websites of the relevant banks for details on operating hours and rest days. Online banking services are available.

WORKING DAYS

Most states observe Monday to Friday as working days while Saturday and Sunday are rest days. In the states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, working days are from Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday are observed as rest days. This applies to government offices and many private establishments.

POPULATION

33.4 Million

PEOPLE

Malaysia has a diverse population. Its multicultural fabric is made up of the Malays, who form the majority of the population, as well as the Chinese, Indians, Portuguese Eurasians and Straits Chinese, along with the indigenous communities of Peninsular Malaysia and the ethnic groups of Sabah and Sarawak.

LANGUAGE

Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the national language but English is widely spoken. Malaysians also speak various languages and dialects.

GOVERNMENT

Malaysia practices parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The Head of State is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Head of  Government is the Prime Minister. The country has a bicameral legislative system.

RELIGION

Islam is the official religion but all other religions are practised freely.

MALAYSIA AT A GLANCE