Time: Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity: Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plugs are used.

Language: Bahasa Melayu is the national language, but English is widely spoken and is the language of business. Cantonese, Hokkien and Hakka are spoken by the Malaysias Chinese population and Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi among the Indian population.

Health: Some tropical illnesses are prevalent in Malaysia and travellers should seek medical advice regarding any recommended vaccinations before travelling. Hepatitis A and B are common, as is dengue fever, which has no vaccination or immunisation. Malaria risks are isolated to the inland regions; the exception is Sabah, where there is an all-year risk. Visitors should stick to bottled water and avoid uncooked meat, fish and vegetables, unpeeled fruit, ice and salads. The hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and other cities are of a high standard. Medical insurance is recommended. Travellers older than one year coming from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Tipping: Although tipping is not customary in Malaysia, the more expensive hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to their bills and further gratuity is unnecessary.

Safety: Malaysia shares with the rest of South East Asia a threat from terrorism, including places frequented by Westerners. Visitors should be aware that street crime such as bag snatching, pick-pocketing and scams are a problem.

Customs: Malaysia is largely Muslim and therefore Islamic customs should be respected, especially during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking in public should be avoided, as it is forbidden by Islamic law. Dress, particularly for women, should be conservative, and arms and legs should be covered when visiting places of worship. It is customary to remove shoes before entering homes and places of worship. When eating or exchanging money, the right hand is used. Homosexuality is illegal.

Business: Business is conducted in a formal and professional manner in Malaysia, though due to the heat, lightweight materials are best and jackets can be removed. When in doubt, dress conservatively; yellow is reserved for royalty and should be avoided. Malaysians should be greeted using the full name and title. Business cards should be given and received using both hands and should be treated with respect. Handshakes are fairly common, though one should wait to see if greeted with a hand, or a 'namaste' - a traditional greeting of a small bow accompanied by hands clasped as if in prayer. Men may not shake hands with women. Business hours can vary but are usually from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm Saturdays. Some businesses follow an Islamic week and are therefore open Sundays to Thursdays.

Communications: The international access code for Malaysia is +60. City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)3 for Kuala Lumpur, (0)4 for Penang. International Direct Dial is available throughout the country, but the service can be erratic. Mobile networks cover most of the country; the local mobile phone operators use GSM networks.

Travel guide content sourced from wordtravels.com

12/08/08 by visitEarth
Tags: Malaysia, travel tips, customs, religion, travel, visitors, visitor, language