Malaysia Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Malaysia's population is ethnically and culturally diverse. Malays account for more than half the population and lead a calm life governed by the authority of elders and a strong sense of respect and etiquette. The Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan members of the population originally came to Malaysia to take up positions in the civil service, police and local government departments, as well as in the new rubber plantations, but many are now among the professional classes. European influences (British, Dutch and Portuguese in particular) are also very marked in Malaysia, although the European section of the population is now small.

The Malaysian equivalent of ‘hello' is the Muslim ‘peace be with you'. Malay men are addressed Encik (pronounced Enchik) with or without the name; single Malay women should be called Cik (pronounced Che) and married women Puan. Touching the hand to the chest is a sign of respect and a relaxed wrist and gentle touch should be adopted when shaking hands. Chinese and Indians usually use Western forms of address. Hospitality is always warm, lavish and informal. When eating food by hand, only the right hand should be used. Visitors should respect religious beliefs and follow the Malaysian example, such as wearing appropriate clothing. Footwear should be taken off at the door when entering a house or temple. Dress should be informal, but not over-casual.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The national airline is Malaysia Airlines (MH) (website: www.malaysiaairlines.com).

Departure Tax
MYR45; may be included in the air fare.

Main Airports
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) (Sepang) (website: www.klia.com.my) is 55 km (34 miles) south of Kuala Lumpur. To/from the airport: Taxis must be pre-paid in the arrivals area at the airport (journey time - 40 minutes). An express bus service operates to hotels in Kuala Lumpur via the Hentian Duta bus terminal (journey time - 1 hour). Regular feeder buses travel from Hentian Duta to Lot 10 on Jalan Sultan Ismail in the city center during the day (journey time - 30 minutes). The cheapest way to travel to the city is by combined bus and train. The Stage Bus Service leaves the airport for Nilai KTM Station (journey time - 30 minutes). From Nilai, trains travel to Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (journey time - 1 hour). The KLIA Ekpres (website: www.kliaekspres.com) and KLIA Transit trains link the airport to Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) (journey time - 30 minutes). Facilities: ATMs, bureaux de change, shopping, duty-free, restaurants, postal services, tourist information, hotel reservations, medical service, left luggage, prayer rooms, car hire, executive lounges and business centers.

Kota Kinabalu (BKI) is 6.5km (4 miles) from the city and is the international gateway to Sabah (the northeastern part of Borneo Island).

Kuching (KCH) is 11km (7 miles) from the city and is the main gateway to Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Getting There by Water
Main ports: George Town (Penang) (website: www.penangport.com.my), Port Kelang (website: www.pka.gov.my), Northport (website: www.northport.com.my) and Westport (for Kuala Lumpur) (website: www.westports.com.my) and, in East Malaysia (for Sabah and Sarawak), Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching (website: www.kpa.gov.my), Lahad Datu, Rejang, Sandakan and Tawau.

Ferry Link (tel: (07) 252 7408) operates a ferry between Tanjung Belungkor and Changi Point in Singapore.

Various cruise ships visit Malaysia's ports.

Getting There by Rail
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM Berhad) (tel: (03) 2267 1200; website: www.ktmb.com.my) runs Malaysia's train services. Direct services operate to and from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur and between Butterworth and Bangkok (Thailand). There is also a 41-hour round trip available from the Eastern and Oriental Express (tel: (020) 7921 4000, in the UK; website: www.orient-express.com), a luxury train service modeled on the famous Orient Express, which leaves from Singapore, journeys through Kuala Lumpur and heads north to Bangkok from where it returns to Singapore.

Rail Passes
KTM Rail Pass: available to foreign tourists (except Singaporeans) and valid for five, 10 or 15 days. Passes permit unlimited travel on Intercity train services on the KTM network and into Singapore. Supplements apply for sleeping berths and on night trains. Passes can be purchased through agents selling rail tickets and at major railways stations.

Getting There by Road
Peninsular Malaysia is linked by good roads to Thailand and (via two causeways and the North-South Expressway) to Singapore. Those traveling from Thailand generally follow the North-South Expressway from Bukit Kayu Hitam to Kuala Lumpur. Toll fees are levied on all highways throughout Malaysia. Road connections between the two eastern states, Sarawak and Sabah, and their neighbors on Borneo, Brunei and the Indonesian state of Kalimantan are fairly good. 

Several companies operate air-conditioned coach services to and throughout Malaysia, including Transnasional Express (tel: (03) 2273 6473; website: www.nadi.com.my).

Overview
The following goods may be imported into Malaysia without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco.
• 1l of spirits or wine or malt liquor.
• Cosmetics, perfume, soaps and toothpaste up to the value of RM200.
• Gifts and souvenirs not exceeding a total value of RM200 (except goods from Langkawi and Labuan, up to a value of RM500).
• 100 matches.
• A total of RM75 for dutiable food preparations.
• A maximum three pieces of new wearing apparel, plus one pair of new footwear.
• One unit of each portable electrical or battery-operated appliance for personal care and hygiene.

Prohibited Imports
It is prohibited to import any goods from Haiti. Non-prescribed drugs, weapons, any imprint or reproduction of any currency note or coin and pornographic material are prohibited. Drug-smuggling carries the death penalty.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
Malaysia Airlines (MH) (website: www.malaysiaairlines.com) serves numerous commercial airports in Peninsular and Eastern Malaysia. Rapidly expanding budget airline Air Asia (website: www.airasia.com) also operates a number of domestic and international routes within Asia and Australia.


Air Passes
Discover Malaysia Pass: available from Malaysia Airlines and valid for 28 days from the date of issue; pass holders can take up to three flights to any Malaysian destination. Available to overseas visitors only.


Getting Around by Water
Coastal ferries sail frequently between Penang and Butterworth (website: www.penangport.com.my) and there is a scheduled passenger service linking Port Kelang with Kuantan, Sarawak and Sabah. Ferries also run between Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah, Penang, Satun and Langkawi. Regular boat services connect Lumut to Pangkor Island and Tunjung Gemak or Mersing to Tioman Island.

In Sabah, long boats connect Labuan to Menumbak. Small rivercraft often provide the most practical means of getting about in East Malaysia, even in the towns, and they are the only way to reach the more isolated settlements (unless one has access to a helicopter). In rural Sarawak the major means of transport are air-conditioned express boats. Boats may easily be chartered and river buses and taxis are plentiful.

Getting Around by Rail
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM Berhad) (tel: (03) 2267 1200; website: www.ktmb.com.my) operates train services in Peninsular Malaysia. The main line heads north from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand and south to Singapore. Another line separates from the west coast line at the town of Gemas and takes a northeastern route to Kota Bharu. There is also a passenger service to two of Malaysia's seaports - Penang and Padang Besar on the west coast.

East Malaysia has one railway line, the preserved steam-operated North Borneo Railway (tel: (088) 263 933; website: www.northborneorailway.com.my). It runs on a scenic line along the coast from Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) to the town of Papar. There are no rail services in Sarawak.

Rail Passes
KTM Rail Pass: available to foreign tourists and valid for five, 10 or 15 days. Passes permit unlimited travel on Intercity train services on the KTM network and into Singapore. Supplements apply for sleeping berths and on night trains. Passes can be purchased through agents selling rail tickets and at major railways stations.

Cheap fares: Children under four travel free; children aged four to 11 pay 50% of the adult fare.

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. Most roads in the peninsular states are paved and signs leading to the various destinations are well placed and clear. The north-south expressway spans 890km (553 miles) from Bukit Kayu Hitam (on the Kedah-Thailand border) to Johor Bahru is the main highway.

Coach: Local coach networks are extensive, with regular services in and between all principal cities. 4-wheel drive vehicles are used in rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak. The main operator is Transnasional (tel: (03) 2273 6473; website: www.nadi.com.my/transportation_home.asp).

Car hire: This is available through international and domestic agencies.

Regulations: Speed limits are 110kph (68 mph) on expressways, 90kph (55 mph) on main roads and 60kph (38 mph) in urban areas unless otherwise posted. Seat belts must be worn at all times. The use of handheld mobile phones is prohibited when driving. Penalties for drinking and driving are severe.

Emergency breakdown service: The Automobile Association of Malaysia (tel: 1 800 880 808; website: www.aam.org.my) provides a 24-hour emergency breakdown service.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. For UK citizens, a national driving license is sufficient, but it has to be endorsed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles in Malaysia.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Public transport services in Kuala Lumpur are provided by conventional buses (operated by Citylinker and Intrakota), ‘Bas Mini' fixed-route minibuses, taxis and pedi-cabs (trishaws). Taxi drivers are usually not tipped. The two Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines, run by Putra LRT and STAR LRT, are a quick way to get around the city and provide links to the eastern and western suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. In addition, Keretapi Tanah Melayu operates two KTM Kommuter lines, electric trains which run from Sentul to Port Kelang and Rawang to Seremban, while the KL Monorail serves destinations from Titiwangsa in the north to a stop near Kuala Lumpur's Sentral Station and destinations in the Golden Triangle. 

Taxis, city buses, the Georgetown shuttle bus and trishaws are all ways of getting around Penang. 

Buses, taxis and trishaws comprise Malacca's efficient public transport system.

Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Kuala Lumpur to other major centers in Malaysia.

	Air	Road	Rail
Penang	0.45	5.00	9.30
Alor Setar	0.45	7.00	7.30
Johor Bahru	0.35	3.00	6.00
Singapore	0.45	6.00	7.00

Next Page »

Related Malaysia Content