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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.
COMMUNICATIONS 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 oneworld 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.
