A comprehensive budget travel guide to Malaysia with tips on things to do, costs, ways to save, transportation, accommodation, and more!
| Tourist Police | Lost your way? Need help? Look for a tourist police officer. Tourist police officers are recognized by their checkered hat bands, dark blue shirts and trousers, and the letter “I” (for information) on a red and blue badge on their breast pocket. |
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| Public Holidays | With its multi-ethnic population, it is not surprising that almost every month sees a different festival. Some of these are declared as Public Holidays. As festivals vary from year to year, it is best to check the dates with the nearest Tourism Malaysia Office before you plan your trip. |
| School Holidays | There are five term breaks in the year for schools throughout Malaysia. The term breaks vary slightly from state to state. However, they fall roughly during the later part of the months of January (1 week), March (2 week), May (3 weeks), August (1 week), October (4 weeks). |
| Public Holidays | It is generally safe to drink water straight from the tap. Bottled mineral water, however, is easily available in shops and supermarkets. |
| Electrical Supply | Electric supply is on a 240-volt 50-cycle system. |
| Newspapers | English Language newspapers are available i.e. The New Straits Times, The Star, Business Times, Malay Mail, Daily Express, Sabah Daily News and Sarawak Tribune. International newspapers can be obtained at most bookshops and newsstands. Several dailies in other languages include Utusan Melayu, Berita Harian, Nanyang Siang Pan, Sin Chew Wit Poh and Tamil Nesan. There are also weeklies, such as the Leader and Straits Shipper. |
| Radio | Radio services are in Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese, and Tamil. |
| Television | There are 4 television stations with TV 1 and TV 2 being government networks while the other two are privately run. |
| Health Services | In the event you need medical care, there are private clinics in most towns. It is a good idea to take out a medical insurance before you travel as Malaysia does not have reciprocal health service agreements with other nations. For over-the-counter prescriptions, there are pharmacies and ‘Chinese medical halls’. |
| Health Regulations | No vaccination is required for cholera and smallpox. |
| Climate | With a temperature that fluctuates little throughout the year, travel in Malaysia is a pleasure. Average temperature is between 21 C and 32 C. Humidity is high. Rain tends to occur between November to February on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, on western Sarawak, and north-eastern Sabah. On the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia the rainy season is April to May and October to November. Click here for the current four-day weather forecast in Kuala Lumpur. |
| Clothing | As Malaysia’s climate is sunny almost year round, light clothing is ideal. It is advisable for ladies, when entering mosques and temples, to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts. |
| Time | Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 16 hours ahead of United States Pacific Standard Time. |
| Etiquette | To avoid “cultural offenses,” here are some tips:
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