Key facts
Malaysia is a country located in South-Eastern Asia. There are 3 countries (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Thailand) that Malaysia shares its borders with. The official language of Malaysia is Malaysian. Although English is not the official language, a large number of people in Malaysia are fluent English speakers.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Malaysia was ranked 28th out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Malaysia is Malaysian ringgit (MYR). The ringgit (RM) is subdivided into 100 sen (Sen).
Malaysian
Banknotes
RM1RM5RM10RM50RM100
Malaysian
Coins
sen5sen10sen20sen50
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Malaysia is 192.58 Mbps and mobile is 191.84 Mbs.The global average is 187.01 Mbps and 128.37 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density When compared to the world average, Malaysia has more ATMs.54.28 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Malaysia, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 4 socket types used in Malaysia. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries. Type G is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Malaysia?
There are Mariott hotels in 4 cities.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Malaysia.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Malaysia.
The Best Western hotel chain operates in Malaysia.
There are Radisson hotels in Kajang.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Malaysia.
What fast food chains are present in Malaysia?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Malaysia.
The KFC chain operates in Malaysia.
The Burger King chain operates in Malaysia.
The Subway chain operates in Malaysia.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Malaysia.
The Starbucks chain operates in Malaysia.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Kuala Lumpur?
Weather data for Kuala Lumpur (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in Kuala Lumpur.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in Malaysia.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Malaysia
Sources
- Malaysia Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Malaysia (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban There is no national smoke-free law, but some areas may have their own rules.
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited.
The products are only for your own use or consumption, or as a present for members of your household. They may not be imported for commercial purposes under any circumstances.
Alcohol allowance
- 1L of alcoholic beverages
Tobacco allowance
n/a
Sources
- Travel Guide
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)