Malaysia - Malasia

Introduction Malaysia (in Malay and English, Malaysia) is a country located in the Southeast Asia. Its territory is made up of two regions separated by the South China Sea. The peninsula region encompasses much of the Malay peninsula, limiting to the north with Thailand and to the south with Singapore. On the other hand, East Malaysia covers the northern part of the borneo island and limits the south with Indonesia and to the north with Brunei, to the one that surrounds.

Capital Kuala Lumpur Idiom Malay Surface 329 847 km² Population 29 628 392 Currency Ringgit Time zone UTC 8 Telephone prefix 60

Context

Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, just above the Equator, between Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore. It consists of two territories divided by the South China Sea: Peninsular Malaysia (which accounts for 40% of the territory and concentrates 80% of the population) and Insular Malaysia, formed by the states of Sabah and Sarawak, which occupy the north of Borneo Island (an island that Malaysia shares with Brunei and Indonesia). Malaysia has approximately 29,840,000 inhabitants. Kuala Lumpur (1,890,000 inhabitants) is the official and legislative capital and Putrajaya (86,000 inhabitants) is the administrative and judicial capital.Language: Malay (official), English, Chinese (Mandarin) and various dialects, Iban, Tamil and others spoken by ethnic minorities. Religion: Islam is the official religion according to the Constitution, although religious freedom is recognized and the practice of other religions is allowed. More than half of the population is Muslim, but there are also Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, as well as animist, Taoist or Shiks minorities. Currency: Ringgit = 100 sen. Form of State: Constitutional monarchy.

Regions

West Malaysia: on the Malay Peninsula it shares a land border in the north with Thailand and is connected by the Johor-Singapore causeway and the second Malaysia-Singapore link to the south with Singapore. It is made up of nine sultanates (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, and Terengganu), two states run by governors (Malacca and Penang), and two federal territories (Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur).

East Malaysia: It occupies the northern part of the island of Borneo, limits Indonesia to the south and surrounds the two enclaves that constitute the Sultanate of Brunei. It is made up of the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan

Malaysia is divided into 16 states, which in alphabetical order are:

West Malaysia:

• West Coast (Perlis, Kedah, Pinang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Putra Jaya): The most developed region, offering the modern capital Kuala Lumpur, UNESCO World Heritage cities with a colonial twist, and the Langkawi Archipelago. Perlis Kedah and Perak are the gateways to Thailand by land.
• East Coast (Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu): The most traditional Muslim region, home to Taman Negara (National Park), numerous unspoiled islands, and the Jungle Railway, which winds through the rural interior. Kelantan is the gateway to Thailand by land.
• Johor (South): It comprises a single state, two coasts, endless palm oil plantations and the gateway to Singapore by land.

East Malaysia

• Sabah: Excellent scuba diving on the island of Sipadan, plus mud diving in Mabul, nature reserves, the federal enclave of Labuan and the mighty Mount Kinabalu.
• Sarawak: The southern state of East Malaysia. Home to traditional longhouses, lush rainforests, and national parks in contrast to the state capital, Kuching. It is the gateway to Brunei and Indonesia by land.

Cities

The most relevant cities in the country divided by regions are:

In Peninsular Malaysia we can find:

1. Johor Bahru: Capital of the state of Johor, located in Peninsular Malaysia. After Kuala Lumpur, the national capital, it is the second most populous urban center in the country.
2. George Town: It is a city of the State of Penang in Malaysia. The city is located in the northwest of Penang Island and has about 220,000 inhabitants, or about 400,000 including the suburbs.
3. Ipoh: Capital of the state of Perak, located in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. It has a population of about 710,000 inhabitants.
4. Malacca City: It is the capital of the state of Malacca. On July 7, 2008 the city was included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites
5. Seremban: It is a Malaysian city founded in 1870. It is the capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan, located in the western part of Peninsular Malaysia. It has a population of about 860,000 inhabitants
6. Kota Bharu: Capital of the state of Kelantan, located in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. It has a population of about 430,000 inhabitants.
7. Alor Setar: Capital of the state of Kedah, located in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. According to 2010 estimates, it had a population of 212,624 inhabitants1 and it is one of the oldest in the country.
8. Shah Alam: Built after independence in 1957, it is the capital of the state of Selangor, located in western Peninsular Malaysia, with a population of about 585,000. It is located 25 km west of Kuala Lumpur, the national capital. In 1978 it replaced it as the regional capital of Selangor.
9. Kuala Terengganu: It is the largest city as well as the royal and state capital of the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. On January 1, 2008 it acquired the status of city
10. Kangar: Capital of the state of Perlis, located in the extreme north of Peninsular Malaysia. It has a population of about 50,000 inhabitants
11. Victory: Capital of the Federal Territory of Labuan. It is located north of the Borneo coast. The official name is Bandar Labuan.
12. Kota Kinabalu: Known as “KK”, previously known as Jesselton, it is the capital of Sabah located in eastern Malaysia. It is also the seat of government for the West Coast state.
13. Kuching: Capital of the state of Sarawak, located in the western part of East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It has a population of about 635,000 inhabitants. It is the fourth city on a national scale. Its name means in Castilian city of cats
14. Subang Jaya: It is a residential city in the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area in the state of Selangor. It has a population of over 1,000,000 people including Puchong and Seri Kembangan
15. Ampang: Located on the border between Kuala Lumpur and the state of Selangor, the division was made after the capital was declared a federal territory in 1974.
16. Petaling Jaya: Located on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, it constitutes one of its satellite cities made up of essentially industrial and residential areas. It is located in the state of Selangor. It has an area of ​​97.2 km².
17. Taiping: Located in the northern part of its western territory. After the capital Ipoh is the largest city in the state of Perak, with a population of 191,104 inhabitants in 2007.1 Between 1876 and 1937 it was in fact the state capital.
18. Lumut: Located in the northern part of its western territory, it is located on the coast of the state of Perak, registering in 2007 a population of 31,880 inhabitants. It is located 84 km from Ipoh, 12 from Sitiawan and is the gateway to Pangkor Island. This former fishing port is now the headquarters of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
19. Kuantan: Capital of the state of Pahang, located in the central area of ​​Peninsular Malaysia. According to 2010 estimate, it had a population of 422,020 inhabitants.
20. Klang: Former capital of the state of Selangor before the inauguration of Shah Alam, and current district capital. It is located in the homonymous district and valley, 32 km west of Kuala Lumpur and 66 km from Port Klang, on the Straits of Malacca, which is the main regional port after Singapore
21. Port Dickson: Located 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia, and is washed by the waters of the Strait of Malacca. It currently has about 89,000 inhabitants.
22. Kuala Lumpur: the multicultural national capital, home of the Petronas Twin Towers.

On the other hand, in East Malaysia there are also urban centers such as:

1. Sibu: It is a city in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia. Located in the northern part of Borneo, it has 229.8 km² and is located at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan rivers, about 60 km from the sea
2. Bintulu: It is a coastal city of Malaysia, capital of the homonymous district in the state of Sarawak in East Malaysia. It is located 650 km from Kuching and 215 from Sibu and Miri
3. Miri: It is a Malaysian city located in the state of Sarawak, in the island zone north of the island of Borneo, not far from the border with Brunei. It has a population of 300,000 inhabitants, being the second most populated in the state.
4. Tawau: It is a city in Malaysia, the third in the state of Sabah after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. It is located to the east of the island of Borneo.
5. Lahad Datu: It is a city and a district of Malaysia. It is located in the east of the state of Sabah, in the insular area of ​​North Borneo
6. Kudat: It is a Malay city in the state of Sabah, in the island zone of the country, in the northern part of Borneo. It is located 190 km north of Kota Kinabalu, the state capital. To the west it is bathed by the South China Sea, and to the east by the Sulf Sea

Understand

Malaysia is a mix of the modern world and a developing nation. With its investment in high-tech industries and moderate oil wealth, it has become a wealthy nation in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, for most visitors, presents a happy mix - there is high-tech infrastructure and things generally work well and more or less on schedule, but prices are still more reasonable than, say, Singapore. The demographics between rich and poor can also be quite apparent: for example, a high-rise luxury condominium building built right across the street from old shop lots or dilapidated apartments. However, you won't find extreme rural poverty or giant urban slums like elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

In terms of attractions, the peninsula (west) of Malaysia contains islands with beautiful beaches and a fraction of the visitors found on the most popular beaches in Thailand, mountain huts surrounded by tea plantations, interesting historical cities, famous food world and the very modern, multicultural capital of Kuala Lumpur. East Malaysia contains lush rainforests with a diverse native population and wildlife, as well as impressive natural attractions such as giant caves, beautiful mountains, and fantastic snorkeling sites. Notably, however, Malaysia is not as popular with backpackers as other Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, partly due to relatively higher costs, and partly due to the more religious and conservative culture. , although generally tolerant.

History

Before the rise of European colonial powers, the Malay Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago were home to empires such as the Srivijaya (whose capital was near modern-day Palembang, Sumatra, but which included the entire Malay Peninsula and lands further north in its greatest extent). , the Majapahit (centered on Java, now part of Indonesia, but most scholars believe that it has included the entire Malay Peninsula and most of the Borneo coast among its vassal states) and Malacca Sultanate. The Srivijaya and Majapahit empires saw the spread of Hinduism in the region and, to this day, despite the fact that Malays are Muslim, many Hindu legends and traditions survive in traditional Malay culture. Mass conversion to Islam only occurred after the arrival of Arab merchants during the Sultanate of Malacca. Fort Cornwallis in George Town, Penang marked the site where the British colonization of Malaya began in 1786. During the 16th century, the Portuguese established the first European colony in Southeast Asia by defeating the Malacca Sultanate. The Portuguese were religiously intolerant and cruel, so the Sultan of Johor helped the Dutch defeat them, and the Netherlands took control of the city. The British also established their first colony on the Malay Peninsula at Penang when it was ceded by the Sultan of Kedah in 1786. Eventually, the area was divided into Dutch and British spheres of influence with the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824. With this treaty, the Dutch agreed to cede Malacca to the British and, in return, the British ceded all their colonies in Sumatra to the Dutch. The dividing line roughly corresponds to what is today the border between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Before WWII, the Malay Peninsula was ruled by the British as the federated Malay states (Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang), which were governed as a single entity, the non-federated Malay states (Johor, Kedah, Perlis , Terengganu, and Kelantan), which were ruled as separate protectorates, and the Strait settlements (including Malacca, Penang, and Singapore), which were crown colonies. These colonies and protectorates were collectively called "Malaya". British Borneo was made up of the British colony of North Borneo, the Kingdom of Sarawak, which was ruled by a British family known as the "White Rajas", and the British protectorate of Brunei.

World War II was disastrous for the British Malay Command. The Japanese swept both coasts of the Malay Peninsula and despite the fierce fighting, much of the British army was tied up fighting the Germans in Europe and those who remained in Malaya simply could not cope with the Japanese attack. The remaining British military equipment to defend Malaya was outdated and no match for the modern technology used by the Japanese, and the only two British battleships based in the region, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, were sunk by bombers. Japanese facing the east. Coast of Malaya. On January 31, 1942, the British had been forced to return to Singapore, which fell to the Japanese on February 15, 1942. The situation was no different in Borneo, which fell to the Japanese on April 1. 1942 after months of fierce fighting. The Japanese occupation was brutal and many, particularly ethnic Chinese, suffered and perished during the occupation. Among the most notorious atrocities committed by the Japanese are the Sandakan Death Marches, with only 6 of the 2,345 prisoners surviving the war.

After World War II, the federated Malay states, the non-federated Malay states, and the Straits of Malacca and Penang settlements federated to form a single British colony known as the Malay Union, and Singapore split to form a separate colony. In the Malay Union, the sultans of the various states ceded all their powers, except those related to religious affairs, to the British crown. However, widespread opposition to the Malay Union led the British to reconsider their position, and in 1948, the Malay Union was replaced by the Federation of Malaya, in which the executive posts of the sultans were restored. In Borneo, the White Rajas ceded Sarawak to the British crown in 1946, making it a crown colony of the United Kingdom.

On August 31, 1957, Malaya gained independence from the British. At midnight, the Union Jack was lowered and the Malay flag was raised in its place in what is now Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) in Kuala Lumpur. The crowd, led by Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, proceeded to sing " Merdeka "seven times. On September 16, 1963, Malaysia was formed by amalgamation of Malaya with the British colonies of North Borneo (now known as Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore, and Brunei chose not to join. The early years of history of the country were marred by the confrontation (Konfrontasi) - actually a series of acts of aggression by Indonesia that ultimately ended in its defeat and a formal peace that has been maintained ever since - and claims to Sabah from the Philippines. On August 9, 1965, Singapore was officially expelled from the federation after several bloody race riots, as the majority of Singapore's Chinese population and the People's Action Party, led by Lee Kuan Yew (later Prime Minister of Singapore for a long time), were seen as a threat to the Malay Dominion. Further race riots broke out in 1969, leading to the forced resignation of Tunku Abdul Rahman; his replacement by Tun Abdul Razak; changes to the Malaysian Constitution that sought to prevent the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition led by the United Malaysia National Organization (UMNO) from being defeated in a future national election;

In 1975, people began arriving by boat from all over the South China Sea in Vietnam, and Malaysia became one of the most important places of first refuge for Indochinese refugees, but in general, only those from the Muslim minority Champa were invited to stay permanently. Later, during the period of tremendous economic development under Mahathir Mohammed's long tenure, large numbers of migrant workers from Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, and several other countries were invited into the area, and even more immigrated illegally. This further increased the diversity of the population, and it was reported in local newspapers that large numbers of workers had married local women, but it also led to social conflict as many Malaysian men suffered from competition and while the economy depended on the immigrants. workers to do jobs that most Malays were no longer willing to do, now that their standard of living was higher, most Malays also did not want to permanently absorb large and potentially unlimited numbers of poor people from far more countries towns in the region. Some immigrants were expelled and even flogged for immigration violations, but the problem has never really been solved.

Things came to a head in 2015 when allegations of corruption emerged from then-Prime Minister Najib Razak in connection with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which was originally created to promote economic development by attracting foreign investment. The accusations led to Bersih(Malay for "clean") rally in which protesters unsuccessfully asked Najib to resign. However, the widespread discontent that emerged from the 1MDB corruption scandal continued to simmer, eventually leading to a shocking first-time electoral defeat for the current BN coalition in the 2018 general elections. The new government of Pakatan Harapan ( PH) is committed to cleaning up corruption, promoting human rights and being more responsive to the needs of ethnic minorities, though whether this can put Malaysia on the path to first world status remains to be seen.

Geography:

Both Peninsular Malaysia and the territory located in Borneo have a similar geographic formation, consisting of mountainous areas in the interior, descending towards coastal platforms. The Titiwangsa Range runs through Peninsular Malaysia from north to south. The mountains of insular Malaysia are higher, highlighting Mount Kinabalu which, at 4,100m, is the highest mountain in Southeast Asia. This configuration makes the country abundant rivers, mighty, although not very long. The vegetation is typically tropical and much of the country, especially the

Insular Malaysia is covered in jungle. On the mainland, the jungle is interspersed with extensive cultivation areas (especially natural rubber plantations and palm trees).

Malaysia comprises two geographic regions, Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, which are separated by the South China Sea.

Peninsular Malaysia (Semenanjung Malaysia) occupies the entire Malay Peninsula between Thailand and Singapore, and is also known as West Malaysia (Malaysia Barat) or slightly archaic Malay (Tanah melayu). It is home to most of Malaysia's population, its capital and largest city, Kuala Lumpur, and is generally more economically developed. Peninsular Malaysia consists of plains on the east and west coasts, separated from each other by a mountain range known as Banjaran Titiwangsa, with the west coast more densely populated and generally more developed than the east coast.

Separated about 800 km east of Peninsular Malaysia is East Malaysia (Malaysia Timur). East Malaysia occupies the northern third of the island of Borneo, shared with Indonesia and little Brunei. Much of the development in East Malaysia is centered in the cities of Kuching, Miri, and Kota Kinabalu. Outside the major cities and smaller towns there is an impenetrable jungle where headhunters once roamed and the coastal plains rise. to the mountains. East Malaysia is rich in natural resources and is largely the Malaysian hinterland for industry and tourism, although those who make the trip will find it to be a world-class ecotourism destination.

Social indicators:

Population density (hab./km2)(2013):	89
GDP per capita:	US $ 10,270
GINI coefficient (2009):	46,2
Life expectancy (2012):	72 (men); 76 (women)
Population growth (2012)	1,65 %
HDI (Numerical value / not world order) (2012):	0,769 / 64
Fertility rate (2012):	1,98
Birth rate (2012):	18
Mortality rate (2012):	8

People

Malaysia is a multicultural society. While Malays make up a majority of 52%, 27% of Malays are Chinese (who are especially visible in cities), 9% are Indians, 12% are members of Aboriginal peoples (often called Orang asli, Malay for "original people"), and there is a diverse grouping of 1.5% of "others", including Thai communities in the northern border states and the Portuguese clan in Malacca. The majority of the population (including virtually all Malays, as well as a significant minority of Indians) adhere to Islam, the official religion, and there are substantial minorities who practice Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and animism.

Culture

Malaysia shares many cultural similarities with its neighbors, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore due to their common history. As the first great kingdoms to emerge in the region were Hindu kingdoms heavily influenced by India, the Malay culture has significant Indian influences. This is most visible in Malaysian cuisine with its relatively heavy use of curries, albeit with local spices rather than Indian ones, meaning that Malaysian curries often have a unique local flavor that is different from their Indian counterparts. Malaysia's minorities also continue to maintain their own distinct cultures, and the Chinese and Indian communities continue to preserve the traditions brought back from their ancestral lands. In particular, Malaysia 'The Chinese ethnic community is considered to have preserved the Chinese culture and language in the best way among all overseas Chinese communities. Furthermore, as Malaysia was unaffected by the Cultural Revolution in mainland China, the Malaysian Chinese ethnic community has preserved many elements of traditional Chinese culture that have been lost in mainland China.

Holidays

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar and lasts between 29 and 30 days. Muslims fast every day for its duration and most restaurants will be closed until the fast breaks in the evening. Nothing (including water and cigarettes) is supposed to pass the lips from sunrise to sunset. Non-Muslims are exempt from this, but should still refrain from eating or drinking in public as this is considered very rude. Working hours are also reduced in the business world. The exact dates of Ramadan depend on local astronomical observations and may vary somewhat from country to country. Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr , which can last several days, generally three in most countries. April 24 - May 23, 2020 ( 1441 d . H. ) April 13 - May 12, 2021 ( 1442 d . H. ) April 2 - May 1, 2022 ( 1443 d . H. ) March 23 - April 20, 2023 ( 1444 d . H. ) March 11 - April 9, 2024 ( 1445 d . H. ) If you plan to travel to Malaysia during Ramadan, consider reading Travel During Ramadan.

One of the important characteristics of Malay culture is the celebration of various festivals and events. The year is full of colorful, challenging, and exciting activities. Some are religious and solemn, but others are vibrant and joyous events. An interesting feature of the main festivals here is the custom of "open doors". This is when the Malays who celebrate the festival invite friends and family over to their homes to enjoy some traditional delicacies and fellowship.

Multicultural Malaysia celebrates a wide range of festivals, but the ones to watch out for across the country are Islamic holidays, especially the fasting month of the Ramadan . During their 29 or 30 days, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having sex from sunrise to sunset. Not all Muslims follow the tradition or keep the entire fasting period of Ramadan, but most make a very serious effort. Pregnant, lactating or menstruating women are not expected to fast, nor are the elderly, the sick or travelers. People get up early before dawn to eat ( sahur ) and takes off early to return home in time for eat breakfast ( buka puasa ) at sunset.

At the end of the month is the festival of Eid ul-Fitr , known locally as Hari Raya Puasa or Aidilfitri , when many locals take a week or two off for 'balik kampung' or return to their hometowns to meet family and friends. Consequently, this is one of many times in a year when major cities like Kuala Lumpur have virtually no traffic congestion.

Another important festival is the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Adha , known locally as Hari Raya Haji or Aidiladha . It is during this festival that Muslims perform the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. In local mosques, the faithful donate and slaughter cows and goats, after which the meat is distributed to everyone. Family gatherings are also held during other main festivals when the locals are generally dressed in traditional costumes and finery, as these festivals are an integral feature of Malay society.

During the month of Ramadan, non-Muslims are expected to be considerate of those who fast. Non-Muslims, as well as Muslims who travel ( musafir), are exempt from fasting, but it is polite to refrain from eating or drinking in public. Public school systems also require non-Muslims to refrain from eating in front of those who are fasting. Many restaurants close during the day and those that stay open keep a low profile. Business travelers will notice that things move more slowly than usual. The advantage for foreign travelers is the Ramadan bazaars in every city and town, bustling with activity and packed with great food. Hotels and restaurants also go out of their way to provide large amounts of food for fasting banquets. During the month of Ramadan, meals at the end of fasts are often considered great festivals. The global fast food chain McDonald's is known for hosting various all-you-can-eat Ramadan holidays throughout the month.

Lunar New Year dates The year of the Rat started on February 4, 2020 at 17:03, and the Lunar New Year was on January 25, 2020. The year of Ox will begin on February 3, 2021 at 10:58 p.m., and the Lunar New Year will be on February 12, 2021. The year of Tiger will start on February 4, 2022 at 04:50 and the Lunar New Year will be on February 1, 2022. The year of Rabbit will begin on February 4, 2022 at 10:42 am and the Lunar New Year will be on January 22, 2023. Contrary to popular belief, the zodiac change does not occur on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but occurs on Li Chun (立春lì chūn ), the traditional Chinese beginning of spring.

Other important holidays include the Chinese New Year (around January / February), Deepavali or Diwali , the Hindu festival of lights (around October / November), the Buddhist festival of Wesak (around May / June) and Christmas.(December 25th). During the Chinese New Year, George Town and Ipoh become the main cities, as many local Chinese working and living in KL originated there. However, this situation is gradually changing, as more and more people are making Kuala Lumpur their hometown. While visiting during such festivals, travelers will be able to experience many wonderful celebrations, but the downside is that many ethnic shops / restaurants will be closed. The best option is to visit during the period immediately after the first two days of the main festival (Hari Raya / Chinese New Year), when the shops will open and the festive atmosphere has not yet died down.

Another important celebration is the Deepavali , celebrated by Malaysian Hindus as the festival of light originating in classical India and one of the main cultural celebrations. In Malaysia, locals practice this tradition by wearing new clothes and receiving token gifts of money. This practice has been adapted by all Malaysians regardless of their religion. Distribute red packets or ang pow during Chinese New Year, green packets or 'duit raya' for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and multi-colored packets during Deepavali.

Some unique festivals in Malaysia include the festival of the Harvest at the end of May of each year and the ' Gawai 'Eyelash in early June, both Thanksgiving celebrations held in East Malaysia.

Thaipusam It is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in January or February and is one of the must-see events. The largest procession in the country takes place in Batu Caves, Selangor. Male devotees carry decorated altars or kavadi down a 272-step flight to the temple, all while also having religious spears and hooks pierced through the outer surfaces of their bodies. The ability is attributed to divine intervention and religious fervor. Devout women join the procession carrying pots of milk on their heads.

Weather

The weather in Malaysia it is equatorial. The northeast monsoon (October to February) floods Borneo and the east coast of the peninsula with rain and often causes flooding, while the west coast (particularly Langkawi and Penang) escapes unscathed. The milder Southwest monsoon (April to October) reverses the pattern. The southern and central parts of Peninsular Malaysia, including the ever soggy Kuala Lumpur, are exposed to both, but even during the rainy season, the rains tend to be heavy but brief.

Malaysia is close to the equator, so warm weather is guaranteed. Las temperaturas generalmente oscilan entre 32 ° C (90 ° F) al mediodía y aproximadamente 26 ° C (79 ° F) a la medianoche. Pero como la mayoría de los países del sudeste asiático, los días soleados de Malasia se ven interrumpidos por la temporada de monzones todos los años, y las temperaturas nocturnas pueden alcanzar un mínimo de aproximadamente 23 ° C (73 ° F) en los días lluviosos.

Las temperaturas tienden a ser más frías en las tierras altas, y lugares como Genting Highlands , Cameron Highlands y Fraser's Hill tienen temperaturas que oscilan entre aproximadamente 17 ° C (63 ° F) por la noche y aproximadamente 25 ° C (77 ° F) durante el día. Se sabe que el monte Kinabalu tiene temperaturas por debajo de los 10 ° C (50 ° F).

To get

Trámites de inmigración

La mayoría de las nacionalidades pueden ingresar a Malasia sin visa y pueden residir en Malasia de 14 a 90 días, dependiendo de su nacionalidad. Consulte al Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores para obtener información actualizada sobre los requisitos de visa y los períodos de estadía. Los estados de Sabah y Sarawak, en el este de Malasia, mantienen cada uno su propio sistema de inmigración y controles separados: incluso los malayos de otros estados requieren un pasaporte o MyKad a su llegada.

Toma de huellas dactilares en inmigración Las autoridades de inmigración de Malasia toman the huellas dactilares de los visitantes a la llegada y salida. Estas huellas digitales pueden llegar a las autoridades de otros países u otras agencias no estatales.

Aquellos que deseen ingresar a Malasia con fines distintos a una visita social o de negocios aún requieren una visa por cualquier período (excepto para los ciudadanos estadounidenses que ingresan con el propósito de estudiar), pero consulte aquí las "lagunas" .

Los ciudadanos de Bangladesh, Bután, China, India, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistán, Serbia y Sri Lanka necesitan una visa, pero pueden solicitar una electronic visa, que es válida por 3 meses para una estadía de hasta 30 días. Tendrá que imprimir la visa una vez que se emita y traer prueba de fondos suficientes, un boleto de regreso y prueba de alojamiento cuando ingrese al país.

Sobrepasar una visa resultará en una multa de US $ 10, € 7.50 o RM30 por día. Sin embargo, es bastante simple evitar quedarse más tiempo con una visa haciendo una "ejecución de visa" a un país vecino por tierra o en un vuelo barato. Malasia puede imponer azotes como castigo por quedarse más tiempo en una visa.

Visas de tránsito

Aunque los ciudadanos de Bután, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistán y Sri Lanka normalmente requieren una visa, pueden transitar por el mismo aeropuerto por hasta 120 horas siempre que lleguen y salgan en la misma aerolínea, aterricen en Sepang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching , Penang o Senai y presentar un boleto aéreo genuino.

By plane

La aerolínea nacional Malaysia Airlines (MAS) tiene una amplia cobertura en Asia, así como vuelos intercontinentales a Australia, Nueva Zelanda y el Reino Unido, y regularmente ocupa un lugar destacado en las evaluaciones de calidad de las aerolíneas. La aerolínea de bajo costo AirAsia y su compañía hermana, AirAsia X , ahora conectan un conjunto de países o ciudades en constante expansión, incluidos Australia, China, Camboya, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macao, Nueva Zelanda, Filipinas, Singapur, Sri Lanka, Tailandia, Myanmar y Vietnam. Emirates Airlines también vuela desde la mayoría de las ciudades a Kuala Lumpur vía Dubai , los vuelos a Perth , Australia , hacen una breve escala en KLIA .

• AirAsia ,☏[3 8775-4000] , [[1]] 88 9933 (solo en el país).
• Malaysia Airlines ,☏[3 7846-3000] , 1-300-88-3000 (solo en el país).
• Emirates Airlines ,☏[36 207 4999].

La mayoría de los vuelos internacionales aterrizan en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) ( KUL ^IATA ). El predecesor de KLIA, el Aeropuerto Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah ( SZB ^IATA ) en Subang, cerca de Kuala Lumpur, maneja aviones fletados y turbohélice para los operadores regionales Firefly Y Berjaya , ☏[3 7846 8228] (solo emisión de boletos), ☏[3 2145 2828]. See section Travel de Kuala Lumpur para obtener información detallada sobre el aeropuerto.

Otros aeropuertos que tienen un número significativo de vuelos a destinos regionales son Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Penang , Kuching (Sarawak), Langkawi y Johor Bahru .

Desde España no existen vuelos directos a Malasia, asi que deberán realizar alguna escala en algún aeropuerto Europeo o pasar por Bangkok o Singapur como alternativa. La aerolínea de bandera de Malasia es la Malaysian Airlines, y las otras aerolíneas que llegan a Kuala Lumpur son KLM, AirFrance, Singapure Airlines, Lufthansa, Thaiairways, Austrian y otras compañías asiáticas.

Otra posibilidad es llegar a Malasia desde algún país vecino como Tailandia, Indonesia o China y para ello contamos con aerolíneas de bajo coste muy económicas, destacamos AirAsia con una red muy amplia de vuelos locales e internacionales, pueden consultar su página en el enlace de la izquierda.

By bus

En autobús también se puede llegar desde Singapur y el recorrido hasta Kuala Lumpur nos llevará 6 horas. Los autobuses / autocares de larga distancia a Malasia salen de Brunei, Indonesia, Singapur y Tailandia. Consulte las páginas de la ciudad correspondiente para obtener más detalles.

• Brunei: hay autobuses a Miri y Kota Kinabalu, que salen del paseo marítimo en el centro de Bandar Seri Begawan. También hay autobuses a Limbang.
• Indonesia: los autobuses directos operan entre Pontianak en Kalimantan Occidental y Kuching en Sarawak.
• Singapore: una multitud de compañías de autobuses operan rutas directas desde Singapur a varios destinos en Malasia peninsular , incluidas Malaca, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, ciudades de la costa este e incluso Petaling Jaya y Subang Jaya. Los autobuses frecuentes hacen el recorrido corto entre Singapur y Johor Bahru, y puede ahorrar un poco de dinero cambiando en la terminal Larkin de JB a un autobús nacional barato en lugar de tomar un autobús directo más caro.
• Thailand: varias empresas operan servicios desde Kuala Lumpur y otras ciudades de Malasia hasta Hat Yai en el sur de Tailandia, donde hay conexiones directas disponibles a Bangkok y muchos otros destinos tailandeses.

By highway

Los cruces terrestres son posibles desde el sur de Tailandia y Singapur hacia Malasia peninsular, así como desde Brunei y Kalimantan (el lado indonesio de Borneo) hacia Sarawak. Se requiere un permiso de conducir internacional (IDP). Consulte las páginas correspondientes de la ciudad o el estado para obtener información más detallada.

• Brunei : los cruces principales se encuentran en Sungai Tujoh on the highway Miri , Sarawak, a Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), y el puesto de control de Kuala Lurah-Tedungan, que se utiliza para el tráfico que viaja entre Bandar Seri Begawan y Limbang en Sarawak. También puede acceder aldistrito de Temburong de Brunei por carretera desde Limbang a través del puesto de control de Pandaruan (Puni en el lado de Brunei) y Lawas a través de Trusan (Labu en el lado de Brunei).
• Indonesia : el cruce principal se encuentra en el puesto de control Tebedu-Entikong en lacarreteraprincipal Kuching - Pontianak . Varios otros cruces fronterizos menores utilizados por los lugareños no están necesariamente abiertos a los extranjeros.
• Singapore: los dos cruces son la Calzada que une Johor Bahru con Woodlands en Singapur, y el Segundo Enlace Malasia-Singapurque une Iskandar Puteri con Tuas en Singapur. Ver Johor Bahru Entra en la sección y Singapur Entra en la sección para más detalles.
• Thailand: los puntos de control internacionales (con las ciudades tailandesas entre paréntesis) incluyen Wang Kelian ( Satun ) y Padang Besar ( Padang Besar ) en Perlis , Bukit Kayu Hitam ( Sadao ) en Kedah , Pengkalan Hulu (Betong) en Perak y Rantau Panjang ( Sungai) Kolok ) en Kelantan . Se sabe desde hace mucho tiempo que la inmigración tailandesa exige un soborno de RM2 / 20 baht por persona para sellarlo dentro o fuera, aunque ha habido algunas medidas enérgicas al respecto.

Particularmente si ingresa desde Singapur, asegúrese de que su pasaporte haya sido sellado por Inmigración de Malasia antes de salir del punto de control. Ha habido informes de funcionarios de inmigración que "se olvidan" de sellar los pasaportes de los viajeros a su llegada, y dichos viajeros están sujetos a arrestos, encarcelamiento y multas de varios miles de ringgit cuando intentan salir de Malasia.

Travel

Existen controles de inmigración para viajar entre Malasia peninsular y Malasia Oriental, así como entre los estados de Sabah y Sarawak, Malasia Oriental. Los ciudadanos malasios deben presentar sus documentos de identidad, mientras que los ciudadanos extranjeros deben presentar sus pasaportes para viajar.

By plane

La compañía aérea Malaysia Airlines propone vuelos entre las ciudades importantes (un buen medio de ganar tiempo si se dispone de presupuesto). En gran parte gracias a la aerolínea económica AirAsia, Malasia está atravesada por una red de vuelos asequibles con precios "promocionales" anunciados a partir de RM9 para vuelos reservados con mucha anticipación. Volar es la única opción práctica para viajar entre Malasia peninsular y Borneo, además de llegar a algunos de los puestos de avanzada más remotos de Borneo. La aerolínea estatal Malaysia Airlines también tiene tarifas competitivas que ahora ofrecen boletos a precios iguales o incluso más bajos si se reservan con anticipación a través de Internet, con una clase de hospitalidad sostenida. Y su rama Firefly tiene una red práctica que irradia desde Penang anteriormente, también comenzó a operar desde el aeropuerto de Subang (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah).

Berjaya Air también vuela pequeños turbohélices Dash-7 desde Kuala Lumpur y Singapur a sus propios aeropuertos en las islas turísticas de Pangkor, Redang y Tioman. Los precios son elevados (desde RM214 más tarifas de ida), pero esta es, con mucho, la forma más rápida y cómoda de llegar a cualquiera de estos.

En Sabah y Sarawak, MASWings opera servicios de turbohélice que unen las comunidades del interior, incluidas las de Kelabit Highlands , con las ciudades costeras. MASWings adquirió la red de servicios aéreos rurales de FlyAsian Express el 1 de octubre de 2007, que a su vez asumió el servicio de Malaysia Airlines 14 meses antes.

En Tren

Las dos líneas principales de tren comunican la costa Oeste, de Tailandia a Singapur, y el centro, pasando por Wakaf Bahru. Los trenes, bastante confortables y muy asequibles, son en cambio lentos y suelen llevar retraso. Los trenes de larga distancia en Malasia rara vez pueden igualar el transporte por carretera en términos de velocidad, pero el operador estatal Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) ofrece servicios relativamente económicos y generalmente confiables en Malasia peninsular (pero no en Sabah / Sarawak en Borneo). La principal línea occidental conecta Butterworth, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur y Johor Bahru, mientras que la línea oriental atraviesa Gua Musang y Taman Negara hasta Kota Bharu, cerca de la frontera con Tailandia y las islas Perhentian.

El orgullo de la flota de KTMB es el ETS (Servicio de tren eléctrico) de Butterworth a Gemas, que circula a diario con modernos trenes con aire acondicionado a 140 km / h. El resto de la red, sin embargo, es principalmente de vía única, con locomotoras diesel lentas y fallas y retrasos demasiado frecuentes. En mayo de 2016, KTMB detuvo todos los trenes cama en la línea occidental, luego de la electrificación de la vía a Gemas. Un tren lanzadera diésel de segunda clase solo con aire acondicionado conecta ahora la sección de Gemas a JB Sentral. KTMB espera tener un servicio completo de ETS en la línea occidental para 2020.

El Jungle Railway es la descripción adecuada para la línea este entre Tumpat (cerca de la frontera tailandesa) y Gemas , incluidas las paradas en Gua Musang, Kuala Lipis, Jerantut (para Taman Negara ) y Wakaf Bahru (para Kota Bharu y las islas Perhentian). El "Jungle Train" original es el lento servicio diurno que se detiene en cada estación (cada 15-20 minutos aproximadamente). Es solo de tercera clase, lo que significa que no hay aire acondicionado ni reservaciones, y algunas paradas pueden ser largas ya que es una sola línea y todos los demás trenes tienen prioridad; por lo tanto, el "Tren de la jungla" espera en bucles laterales en el camino para adelantar o adelantar. los trenes pueden pasar. Algunos encuentran que es un viaje fascinante y asombrosamente pintoresco; otros sienten que no hay mucho que ver cuando estás en la jungla. La línea este también tiene un tren expreso nocturno (para el cual es posible y recomendable reservar) yendo en cada dirección. Además de los asientos con aire acondicionado, estos trenes tienen Noche Superior(ADNS) coches cama, que tienen literas superior e inferior a cada lado, cada litera tiene una partición sólida en cada extremo y una cortina lateral para mayor privacidad. Los vagones tiemblan y traquetean bastante, pero son cómodos y limpios.

Los boletos se pueden reservar e incluso imprimir en línea en el sitio de KTMB. Las consultas y reservas se pueden hacer por teléfono en los centros de llamadas de KTMB, ☏ 60 3 2267-1200(Malasia) o, ☏ 65 6222-5165 (Singapur).

En el este de Malasia, la única línea ferroviaria la opera Jabatan Kereta Api Negeri Sabah (JKNS) (sitio web en malayo solamente), que va desde Tanjung Aru cerca de Kota Kinabalu hasta la ciudad de Tenom.

By bus

Informar malos conductores Los conductores de autobús (especialmente en rutas más "rurales") a veces conducen descuidadamente, aceleran como maníacos, adelantan en curvas sin salida, etc. La gran mayoría de los viajes se realizan sin problemas. Sin embargo, algunos accidentes horribles atribuidos a la conducción imprudente han dado lugar a una represión y una línea directa a nivel nacional, y se ha establecido un número de SMS para denunciar a estos conductores / vehículos. Este número está convenientemente pegado en la parte trasera de cada vehículo grande del país.

La red de autobuses es mucho más densa y recorre el país en todos los sentidos varias veces al día con precios muy parecidos a los de los trenes. La forma más barata de viajar por Malasia es en autobús. Todas las ciudades de cualquier tamaño tienen una terminal de autobuses que ofrece conexiones con otras partes del país. Hay muchas empresas con distintos grados de fiabilidad, pero dos de las más grandes y fiables son Transnasional Y NICE / Plusliner. Se recomiendan autobuses de "lujo" de 24 plazas para viajes de larga distancia.

Si viaja por vacaciones o incluso durante el fin de semana, es recomendable reservar sus asientos con anticipación. Muchas compañías de autobuses le permiten reservar en línea directamente a través de su sitio web. Sin embargo, algunos solo permiten reservas en línea para personas con tarjetas de crédito de Malasia, lo que no es realmente conveniente para los visitantes internacionales. Afortunadamente, la mayoría de los operadores de autobuses se han agrupado en dos portales de reserva y son particularmente útiles si tiene destinos específicos pero no está seguro de qué compañía de autobuses usar. Ambos permiten el pago con cualquier tarjeta de crédito y requieren una tarifa nominal por su servicio (generalmente RM1-2).

Boleto de autobús en línea,☏ 603 2027 4626, ✉ [email protected]. (actualizado en mayo de 2019)catchthatbus.com (catchthatbus.com), ☏ 603 9212 1818 (MI), ✉ [email protected]. Redbus(autobús rojo), ☏ 65-31582888, ✉ [email protected]. Easybook (Easibook), ☏ 60 4332 7718, ✉ [email protected]. (actualizado en marzo de 2015)El aire acondicionado en algunos autobuses puede ser extremadamente frío, así que no olvide traer un buen suéter, pantalones y calcetines, ¡especialmente para viajes nocturnos en autobuses de lujo!

In taxi

Efectúan algunas distancias largas pero resultan más caros. Además, es necesario que el coche se llene para partir, si no, pagarás un precio muy elevado. Los taxis están disponibles en todas las ciudades y pueblos más grandes, aunque en lugares más pequeños es posible que tenga que llamar a uno (pregunte a cualquier comerciante o consulte las páginas amarillas). Por lo general, deberá negociar la tarifa con anticipación, aunque los taxis con cupón prepago suelen estar disponibles en los aeropuertos. RM5 debería ser suficiente para un viaje corto por la ciudad, mientras que RM100 es suficiente para contratar un taxi por un día completo.

En Kuala Lumpur, los taxis económicos suelen ser de color rojo y blanco (taxi urbano: estos taxis no pueden viajar fuera de la ciudad, por ejemplo, a otro estado) o amarillo. Los taxis suelen ser pequeñas berlinas como Proton Wira y funcionan con GNV (gas natural). Los taxis azules son berlinas o monovolúmenes (vehículos multiusos) más grandes y más lujosos. Estos cuestan típicamente entre un 25 y un 30% más que los taxis económicos y normalmente están disponibles en las paradas de taxis en todo Kuala Lumpur, incluidos los principales centros comerciales y hoteles. Los taxis rojos y blancos se pueden parar fuera de las carreteras y tienen taxímetro. Asegúrese de que el conductor del taxi sea malayo (todos los conductores deben tener un permiso de taxi y una licencia con su foto) antes de abordar, ya que se sabe que los propietarios de taxis sin escrúpulos alquilan sus taxis a pasajeros sin licencia. Como en la mayoría de los otros países, un extranjero con una visa de trabajo solo puede trabajar en el trabajo / industria especificada en la visa. Todos los taxistas deben ser malasios o poseedores de relaciones públicas, ya que el gobierno de Malasia no emite visas de trabajo a extranjeros para conducir taxis.

Además, tenga cuidado con los taxis sin licencia (taxi sapu) en los aeropuertos. Literalmente pueden llevarte a dar un paseo. Habrá revendedores en los aeropuertos ofreciendo a los viajeros su servicio de taxi, incluso pretendiendo ser legítimos. Por increíble que parezca, se sabe que algunos de ellos roban cientos de ringgit a los visitantes por primera vez por un solo viaje a la ciudad, cobrando 100 veces más que la tarifa correcta. En los aeropuertos, obtenga siempre su taxi en las cabinas de los operadores autorizados instaladas en el propio aeropuerto y nuncade cualquiera que solicite directamente. Siempre afirmarán ser legítimos, pero rara vez tienen licencia y pueden ser inseguros. Las cabinas del operador de taxi pueden proporcionarle recibos. Otro consejo es reservar sus taxis con anticipación. El conserje de todos los buenos hoteles podrá ayudarlo con esto. Si viaja en un taxi sin licencia, es posible que no esté cubierto por su seguro de viaje en caso de que el taxi se vea involucrado en un accidente.

La aplicación de transporte más popular es Grab. En Grab, puede pagar en efectivo; los conductores tienen cambio.

By car

Permite más libertad y si se alquila entre varias personas es asequible. El estado de las carreteras es excelente pero ten cuidado: se conduce por la izquierda. Malasia tiene una excelente red de carreteras, que culmina en la Autopista Norte-Sur a lo largo de la Costa Oeste desde Iskandar Puteri hasta Perlis. La gasolina o conocida localmente como gasolina es ligeramente más barata que los precios de mercado a RM1.90 / litro (Ron 95) (en Malasia peninsular, Sabah y Sarawak). Los peajes se pagan en las autopistas, pero su precio varía de caro a razonable: conducir a lo largo del país (734 km) desde la frontera tailandesa hasta Singapur cuesta 108 RM (~ 25 dólares estadounidenses). Si bien puede conducir de Johor Bahru a Perlis en un día en la costa oeste, el sistema de carreteras está considerablemente menos desarrollado en la costa este, y aún menos en Sabah y Sarawak, así que asegúrese de tener en cuenta el tiempo de viaje adicional si viaja en esas áreas. Precios de peaje para carreteras y calzadas dentro de las principales ciudades, especialmente Kuala Lumpur,

Para aquellos que estén pensando en utilizar GPS (Garmin, Papago, Galactio y Mio-Polnav), los mapas de Malasia se pueden descargar de forma gratuita desde http://www.malfreemaps.com/index.php El usuario de Garmin tiene la suerte de tener otra opción en http : //www.malsingmaps.com/portal/ . Los mapas de ambos partidos son aportados por el increíble grupo sin fines de lucro de personas que comparten la pasión común de hacer mapas gps de Malasia.

Si bien la calidad y los hábitos de conducción en Malasia son mejores que en la mayor parte del resto del sudeste asiático, no son necesariamente excelentes, especialmente en comparación con lo que los visitantes de la mayoría de los países occidentales están acostumbrados en casa. El tráfico en Malasia conduce por la izquierda, un legado dejado por los británicos. Tenga cuidado con los motociclistas imprudentes, especialmente de noche, y especialmente si es un peatón: los lugareños generalmente ignoran una luz roja para girar a la izquierda, lo que pone en riesgo a los peatones. Como automovilista, en los semáforos, los motociclistas se acumularán frente a usted; déjelos alejarse primero para evitar accidentes.

Es necesario tener cuidado al conducir en ciudades más grandes, como Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru y George Town. Los problemas incluyen motociclistas aparentemente suicidas, carriles de tráfico congestionados durante todo el día y carreteras desconcertantes, especialmente en las partes más antiguas de la ciudad, donde la planificación era prácticamente inexistente por los entonces ocupantes coloniales británicos. Fuera de la ciudad, sin embargo, los automóviles y las motocicletas son la mejor y, a veces, la única forma de explorar el país. Algunas de las áreas más rurales tienen motocicletas y scooters para alquilar por tan solo RM25 / día, una excelente manera de explorar el área local o islas más grandes como Langkawi. Como se esperaba, la mayoría de las agencias de alquiler requerirán que se presente una licencia de conducir válida al momento del alquiler. Los niveles de combustible a menudo se comparan antes y después del alquiler, y el vehículo también se verifica para detectar daños, así que asegúrese de que todo esté documentado. y solicitar un reembolso de cualquier exceso de combustible si es posible. Las empresas de alquiler de coches más grandes como Hertz y Avis también pueden exigirle que tenga una tarjeta de crédito válida en la que se autorizará un depósito, pero no se deducirá (a menos que haya daños en el coche).

Beca. Los cochecillos tirados por personas se llaman aquí beca, pronunciado "betcha". Su decoración es muy bonita y los conducen ciclistas. Permiten circular por las ciudades por una módica suma.

Talk

El idioma mayoritario y oficial de Malasia es el malayo (officially Bahasa Malasia, a veces también conocido como Bahasa Melayu). También existen minorías chinas e indias, entre las cuales se puede hablar el chino (mandarín y cantonés) o el tamil, según el caso. En cuanto al inglés es también el idioma cooficial del estado de Sarawak. El idioma indonesio, que se habla al otro lado de la frontera en Indonesia, es similar al malayo, y los hablantes de ambos idiomas generalmente pueden entenderse entre sí. Las principales diferencias están en las palabras del préstamo; El malayo tomó prestado más del inglés, mientras que el indonesio tomó prestado más del holandés. Algunas partes de Malasia cerca de la frontera tailandesa, sobre todo Kelantan, tienen dialectos del malayo que son casi incomprensibles para los hablantes del malayo estándar, aunque la mayoría de las personas en estas áreas podrán conversar en malayo estándar si es necesario.

The English es obligatorio en todas las escuelas y se habla mucho en las ciudades más grandes, entre la clase alta bien educada, así como en las principales atracciones turísticas, aunque en las zonas rurales un poco de malayo será útil. También hay una forma coloquial de inglés que se habla entre los malayos en áreas urbanas, no mal conocida como manglish, que implica el cambio de código entre inglés, malayo y / u otros idiomas, y requiere un poco de tiempo para acostumbrarse si tiene la intención de unirse al conversación sobre temas locales. Casi todos los malasios no pronuncian la letra "h", por ejemplo. "Tres" y "Árbol" se dicen como "árbol". Los malasios casi siempre intentarán hablar "inglés estandarizado" (británico) cuando se acerquen viajeros occidentales. En general, las comisarías de policía y las oficinas gubernamentales tendrán personal de habla inglesa en servicio.

Se enseña árabe a quienes asisten a escuelas religiosas islámicas, y muchos clérigos, así como otros musulmanes muy observadores, tendrán un dominio funcional del árabe. Sin embargo, no se habla mucho, aunque el idioma malayo tiene una gran cantidad de préstamos del árabe. También puede notar algunos ejemplos de malayo escritos con letras árabes. Esto se llama Jawi y todavía se usa para publicaciones e inscripciones religiosas, especialmente en estados como Kelantan, aunque el alfabeto latino se usa mucho más comúnmente en todo el país.

La comunidad china en Malasia habla una amplia variedad de dialectos chinos, incluidos el cantonés, teochew, hakka, hainan, hokchiu Y hokkien. El mandarín se enseña en las escuelas chinas, mientras que el cantonés se escucha comúnmente en los medios de comunicación debido a la popularidad de los seriales de TVB de Hong Kong entre la comunidad china, por lo que muchos hablan ambos, independientemente de su dialecto nativo. Las ciudades malasias con grandes poblaciones étnicas chinas a menudo tendrán un dialecto que sirva como lengua franca entre esa comunidad: en Kuala Lumpur e Ipoh, será cantonés, en Penang y Klang, Hokkien y en Kota Kinabalu, Hakka. El idioma indio más hablado es el tamil; otros incluyen malayalam, punjabi y telugu.

En los estados del norte de Malasia peninsular que limitan con Tailandia, hay varias comunidades étnicas tailandesas, conocidas localmente como Orang Siam, que hablan varios dialectos del tailandés. Malaca en el sur también es el hogar de una comunidad portuguesa que habla un criollo de origen portugués. Las áreas boscosas remotas de Malasia peninsular también albergan a varios pueblos tribales conocidos como Orang Asli, que hablan varios idiomas indígenas como el semelai, the temuan y muchos otros. En el este de Malasia también se hablan varias lenguas indígenas, especialmente iban Y kadazan.

Las películas y los programas de televisión suelen mostrarse en su idioma original con subtítulos en malayo. Algunos programas para niños están doblados al malayo.

Watch

Malasia es un país fascinante con muchas caras. Es multiétnico y multicultural, y sus atracciones varían desde las icónicas Torres Petronas en la bulliciosa Kuala Lumpur hasta perfectas playas de arena bordeadas de palmeras y densas selvas con orangutangos y tigres.

Hay varios National Parks impresionantes . Las expediciones van desde aquellas en las que apenas pierdes de vista el hotel hasta aquellas en las que estás completamente inmerso en la jungla durante semanas, solo con el guía y tú mismo. Para detectar un tigre o un elefante salvaje en su hábitat natural, es posible que tenga que pasar más de unos pocos días en la naturaleza, pero no tendrá problemas para ver animales más pequeños. El Parque Nacional Bako es el parque nacional más antiguo de Malasia y uno de los mejores lugares para ver monos narigudos. Las vastas selvas de Taman Negara se han convertido en un destino popular para los ecoturistas , al igual que el remoto pero hermoso Parque Nacional Gunung Mulu., un sitio del Patrimonio Mundial famoso por sus formaciones kársticas de piedra caliza, pináculos de piedra y enormes cuevas. Para escapar de los bochornosos trópicos, haga lo que hicieron los ingleses y diríjase a las frescas plantaciones de té de Cameron Highlands, la pintoresca aldea de estilo Tudor en Fraser's Hill o escale el monte Kinabalu en Sabah.

Para muchas personas, Malasia trae a la mente imágenes de playas vírgenes con grandes oportunidades de buceo, y por una buena razón. Sipadan frente a la costa de Sabah y las hermosas islas Perhentian se encuentran entre los mejores (y más populares) lugares. Las costas en las partes menos industrializadas del país, en general, bien merecen la pena atravesarlas por su belleza natural y relajantes kampung (pueblos) junto al mar. Siga a la multitud hasta las arenas perfectas de postal de las islas Langkawi, donde podrá tomar un cóctel en la playa y alojarse en uno de los muchos complejos turísticos.

Si usted está más interesado en tomar el pulso de una ciudad, no se pierda Kuala Lumpur, acolchado de fantasía horizonte de ultra-modernos, incluyendo las famosas torres gemelas Petronas. George Town, la capital de Penang, es conocida por su excelente comida, arquitectura colonial y comunidades chinas, peranakan e indias relativamente antiguas e institucionalizadas, que comparten la ciudad con malayos, tailandeses y euroasiáticos étnicos. Ipoh es una buena opción si disfruta de una ciudad de ritmo algo más lento que cuenta con elegantes edificios de la época colonial de hace unos 100 años, y Malaca es para aquellos que quieran rastrear la historia colonial e imperial de Malasia varios cientos de años antes. Para una experiencia completamente diferente, diríjase a Kota Bharu para descubrir una cultura regional islámica conservadora única influenciada por Tailandia , a solo unos kilómetros de distancia, o visite las diversas ciudades del este de Malasia , como Kuching Y Kota Kinabalu. Especialmente cuando viaje con niños, considere visitar uno de los excelentes zoológicos del país, como el zoológico de Taiping , el zoológico Negara de Kuala Lumpur, el zoológico de Johor y el zoológico de Malaca.

• Torres Petronas: situadas en Kuala Lumpur, fueron los edificios más altos del mundo entre 1998 y 2003, superados el 17 de octubre de 2003 por el edificio Taipei 101 en Taiwán. Actualmente es el noveno edificio más alto del mundo (el más alto es el Burj Khalifa, en Dubái) y son las torres gemelas más altas del mundo. Estas torres cuentan con una altura de 452 metros.
• Monte Kinabalu: es una montaña en el Sudeste Asiático. Se encuentra en el Parque Nacional de Kinabalu (declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad en 2000) en el estado de Sabah situado en Malasia Oriental, que ocupa la zona septentrional de Borneo, en el trópico. Es la mayor montaña de Insulindia. Tiene una altura de 4.095m
• Parque Nacional Taman Negara: es un parque nacional ubicado en el centro de la Malasia Peninsular a cuatro grados al norte del Ecuador. Tiene un área de 4.343 km (tres veces el tamaño de Singapur). Se extiende sobre tres estados: Kelantan, Terengganu y Pahang. Es un bosque tropical que se formó aproximadamente hace ciento treinta millones de años
• Cuevas de Batu: Es una colina de piedra caliza, que tiene una serie de cuevas y templos cuevas, situadas en el distrito de Gombak, a 13 kilómetros (8 millas) al norte de la ciudad de Kuala Lumpur.La cueva es uno de los santuarios hindúes más populares fuera de la India, y está dedicado a Murugan. Es el punto focal de un festival hindú de Thaipusam.
• Parque Nacional de Gunung Mulu: Declarado como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco en el año 2000. Contiene grandes cuevas y formaciones cársticas, en una selva lluviosa de montaña. El parque es famoso por sus cavernas y multitud de expediciones fueron organizadas para explorarlas, como las selvas que las rodean
• Aquaria KLCC: Es un parque submarino situado debajo del centro de convenciones de Kuala Lumpur en la ciudad capital del país.
• Torre de Kuala Lumpur: Conocida también como (KL Tower) es una estructura localizada en Kuala Lumpur construida en 1995. Es utilizada para la telecomunicación y, con los 421 m de altura que alcanza su antena, se le considera como una de las torres más altas del mundo
• Mezquita Nacional de Malasia: Mezqiuta situada en Kuala Lumpur. Tiene capacidad para 15000 personas y se sitúa en 53000 m2 de hermosos jardines.
• Isla Pangkor: Es una isla de la costa del estado de Perak en el noroeste de la península de Malaca, es accesible por ferry desde Lumut (un pequeño pueblo costero que la une a Ipoh, o desde Sitiawan). Tiene una superficie de tan solo 8 kilómetros cuadrados y una población de unos 25.000 isleños.
• Kota Bharu: Es la capital del Estado de Kelantan. Es una ciudad fácil de recorrer a pie y cuenta con una gran oferta de ocio (atracciones, compras y gastronomía).
• Langkawi: Es un archipiélago de 99 islas que combinan playas, selva y montañas situado el mar de Andaman Langkawi, frente a la costa noroeste de Malasia.

Do

Malasia tiene un excelente buceo. Los lugares más populares son las islas de la costa este de Malasia peninsular (Perhentian, Redang, Tioman y muchas más), aunque la temporada de buceo se limita de abril a septiembre. Sin embargo, el sitio de buceo más famoso, a menudo clasificado entre los mejores del mundo, es Sipadan, en el extremo más oriental de Borneo malasio. Hay muchos otros sitios menos conocidos, como Layang Layang.

Rafting en aguas bravas

Puede encontrar rápidos de grado I mansos a increíblemente difíciles y peligrosos de grado V en los muchos parques nacionales de Malasia:

• Jeram Besu - Grado I-III - Pahang
• Río Telom - Grado V - Pahang
• Kuala Perahu - Pahang
• Río Lipis - Pahang
• Río Anak Jelai - Grado I-II - Pahang
• Río Tembeling - Grado I-II - Pahang
• Río Sedim - Grado III-IV - Kedah
• Sungai Selangor - Grado I-III - Selangor
• Río Kiulu - Grado II - Sabah
• Río Padas - Grado III-IV - Sabah
• Sungai Itek (río Kampar) - Grado I-III - Perak
• Río Sungkai - Grado I-II - Perak
• Río Singoh - Grado V - Perak
• Río Endau - Johor
• Río Nenggiri - Grado I-III Kelantan
• Kuala Kubu Bahru, Selangor

Martial Arts

Malasia es el hogar de un estilo de artes marciales exclusivamente malayo conocido como silat. Los torneos de Silat se llevan a cabo entre diferentes escuelas del país, y los Juegos del Sudeste Asiático son el principal torneo internacional en silat, con competidores de los países vecinos también. También hay una versión de danza estilizada igualmente tradicional de silat llamada silat gayung, que vale la pena ver si tienes la oportunidad.

Además, también hay muchos maestros de kung fu entre la comunidad étnica china, y Malasia es constantemente uno de los mejores en las competiciones internacionales de wushu.

Music

Malasia es el hogar de una forma de canto exclusivamente malaya llamada dikir barat. Dikir barat normalmente lo canta un coro, aunque también puede haber partes solistas, y también se canta a capella o se acompaña solo de instrumentos de percusión. Las competiciones de Dikir Barat son bastante populares entre la comunidad malaya y se transmiten con frecuencia en la televisión nacional de Malasia.

To buy

Tipos de cambio del ringgit de Malasia As of January 2020: Precio FOB de Referencia: US $ 1 ≈ RM4.1 € 1 ≈ RM4.6 Reino Unido £ 1 ≈ RM5.4 Australiano $ 1 ≈ RM2.9 Singapur $ 1 ≈ RM3.0 Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available at XE.com

La moneda de Malasia es el ringgit de Malasia, abreviado como RM (ISO code: MYR). Se divide en 100 sen (centavos). El ringgit solía denominarse dólar y es posible que vea el símbolo '$' en los billetes más antiguos. Hay monedas de RM0.05 (plata), RM0.10 (plata), RM0.20 (plata u oro) y RM0.50 (plata u oro), así como billetes de RM1 (azul), RM5 (verde). , RM10 (rojo), RM20 (naranja), RM50 (verde / azul) y RM100 (violeta). Las monedas de 5 sen se entregan principalmente como cambio en grandes establecimientos o supermercados, mientras que los vendedores ambulantes y vendedores ambulantes pueden mostrarse reacios a aceptarlas. Los dólares de Singapur y Brunei también se conocen como ringgit en malayo, por lo que cuando esté cerca de las áreas fronterizas, es posible que desee verificar para asegurarse de en qué moneda están cotizando el precio.

The monedas extranjerasno se aceptan generalmente, aunque puede salirse con la suya intercambiando algunos dólares estadounidenses o euros incluso en áreas más remotas, pero espere muchas miradas y algo de persuasión. La principal excepción son los dólares de Singapur, que son aceptados por KTMB y las carreteras de peaje, pero a un tipo de cambio 1: 1 muy desfavorable (una anomalía que se remonta a cuando el ringgit era intercambiable con el dólar de Singapur, antes de la década de 1970).

The mostradores de cambio de divisas se pueden encontrar fácilmente en las principales áreas comerciales y tienen un mejor tipo de cambio que en los bancos y aeropuertos. Asegúrese de decir la cantidad que desea cambiar y solicite la "mejor cotización", ya que las tasas que se muestran en el tablero a menudo son negociables, especialmente para cantidades mayores. Large foreign notes, such as € 500, are almost impossible to exchange for a good rate in some areas, especially in Sabah or Sarawak, where banks offer a much lower rate compared to what you would get if you exchanged a larger banknote. little. amount. Some exchange houses in Kota Kinabalu or Kuching may even turn down your business if you have large foreign bills, so the best option is to bring smaller bills unless you are willing to shop around.

Banks

The ATMs They are widely available in cities, but stock up on cash if you're heading to smaller islands or the jungle. The Credit cards can be used in most stores, restaurants and hotels, although the skimming it can be a problem at the most dubious outlets. For credit card use, make sure your credit / debit card is chip based as most merchants no longer accept magnetic stripe based cards.

Malaysian banks handle international transactions. These range from a nominal fee if you are an account holder to a slightly more expensive amount if you only log in to use a certain service. International banks such as Citibank & HSBC have a presence in Malaysia, the latter with branches throughout the country. The local banking giants are Maybank, Public Bank and CIMB Bank, and they are a very good alternative to the banks mentioned above, especially in terms of prices, local knowledge and presence, as well as available international services, e.g. Money transfers. For any inquiries and transactions, get a number, sit down and wait for your turn to be taken. (No need to queue while you wait in the comfort of the air conditioning!)

Banks are open Monday through Friday from 09: 30-16: 00 and selected banks are open on Saturdays from 09: 30-11: 30 except the first and third Saturday of each month. In the states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, they are open from Sunday to Thursday from 09: 30-16: 00.

Due to the risk of fraud, many ATMs in Malaysia do not allow you to withdraw with foreign debit cards. If your card is declined, try another ATM. This is unique to Malaysia and does not apply to Thailand, Singapore, or Indonesia. If you call your bank or even Visa / MasterCard, they often don't realize because the Malaysian bank rejects the transaction. Make sure to bring cash or other forms of money in case your debit card is declined.

Costs

Most western visitors will find Malaysia quite cheap, although it is notably more expensive than neighboring Indonesia. You can live in hostel dorms and feast on street food for less than RM50 a day, but you'll want to double this for convenience, especially if you're traveling in more expensive East Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is also generally more expensive than the rest of the country. At the other end of the spectrum, luxury hotels and airfares are comparatively affordable, with even the fanciest 5-star hotels costing less than RM400 per night.

Bukit Bintang, a popular shopping area in Kuala Lumpur.

Tip

Tipping is not common in Malaysia. However, a small tip is usually appreciated if exemplary service has been provided. The 10% service charge is included in the total bill in most air-conditioned restaurants. More expensive restaurants, bars and hotels may indicate prices in the form of RM19 ("plus more"), which means that the sales tax (6%) and the service charge (10%) will be added to the bill. A 5% hotel tax can also be added.

Shopping

Kuala Lumpur is a shopping mecca for clothing, electronics, watches and computer items, with very competitive prices in every way. Local Malaysian brands include Royal Selangor and British India. Traditional Malaysian fabrics (batik) are a popular souvenir. The cheapest place to easily buy ethnic souvenirs (especially wooden ones) is Kuching in eastern Malaysia, and the most expensive place is the main and elegant shopping malls of Kuala Lumpur. Generally, stores are open from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm / 10:00 pm in large cities. They open and close earlier in smaller cities and rural areas. Some shops may also be closed on some days, such as in Malacca where many shops and restaurants are closed on Tuesdays. If you shop too much while shopping in Malaysia (which is easy enough to do), the surface postage rates are very reasonable. Excess baggage at the airport is still high, but not as high as in many other countries. Check with your airline first.

To eat

Malaysian food reflects the tastes of different ethnic groups that make up the country. It finds its origin in the Indonesian culture of the island of Java where its first settlers came from, flavors that have been enriched with the arrival of Indians and Chinese to the region.

The predominant products are rice, curry, chilly, noodles, coconut milk, fish, chicken, spices, and a wide variety of native vegetables.

The base is always a good portion of rice to which is added different preparations with sauces to savor all the products and balance the diet.

Lemon tea, milk and coffee with milk are also consumed in almost all bars and restaurants, slushies or hot.

Tradition tells us to eat with our hands, although all restaurants offer us cutlery (fork and spoon).

Drink and go out

Nightlife is concentrated in the big cities, especially in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan and Kuching. In Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Towers are a must during the day and especially at dusk, it is necessary to admire its architectural beauty illuminated until 12 p.m. The corner of Bukit Bintang is another must-see, from there we can walk to the shopping centers from Jalan Bukit Bintang Street such as Pavilion or Star Hill where the offer of restaurants is generous and of good design.

If we want something more typical, we can go to Jalan Alor street where the offer of Chinese restaurants will overwhelm us.

For something more relaxed and European-style we have the restaurants on Changkat Bukit Bintang Street, with Spanish offerings included.

The KLCC Shopping Center also has a plant of highly recommended restaurants. The French Cafe Cafe restaurant is also a highly recommended option even if it is off the beaten track.

Sleep

Types of accommodation: in addition to hotels, you can stay in youth hostels, guest houses, chalets (kind of cabins), bungalows or in some camping areas. Wild camping is allowed in some places like the jungle, islands or private land if you get the permit.

Learn

Malaysian universities are generally well regarded and attract exchange students from near and far. Among Malaysian universities, the undisputed most prestigious is the University of Malaya (UM), located in Kuala Lumpur. In addition, several foreign universities have established campuses in Malaysia.

Work

If you do not know the local language or speak English fluently, you only have the option of working in the Spanish companies located there.

Obtaining a work visa requires some effort. The easiest way to work in Malaysia is probably to work for a company abroad and be sent to Malaysia. The Malaysia Immigration Department website has basic tips. To get a work permit, you must have an offer from your future employer, who will have to do the paperwork for you. It is very expensive and comes with many restrictions if a company wants to hire a foreigner and as such it is almost impossible. As stated above, one feasible way is to get transferred. Finding a job is unlikely unless you are married to a local and even then it is still difficult.

Business days in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Johor states are Sunday through Thursday, while in most other states, business days are Monday through Friday. Weekends are Saturday and Sunday, while in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor states it is Friday and Saturday.

Security

Emergency numbers Central emergency number 999

Although the crime rate is higher than in neighboring Singapore, Malaysia is generally a safe country for visitors. Crimes against tourists are generally limited to purse snatching, pickpocketing, and petty theft. It is important to keep a close eye on valuable items. Theft is more common in crowded places like markets and public transportation. Generally, if you avoid deserted areas, return to your hotel before midnight, and use your common sense, you are unlikely to be mugged. Homosexuality is a crime and the police can raid gay bars; gay and lesbian tourists need to be self-aware and careful.

Especially in the eastern part there are risks due to the political situation and in the maritime zone due to piracy.

The death penalty is still valid in Malaysia.

Crime

There have been some reports of pickpockets and thieves on the run in some of the major cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Johor Bahru. As a general precaution, never load your bags on the side facing the road and always walk facing oncoming traffic. Also, walk a few meters further from the roads. Female travelers should take extra precautions at night.

Johor Bahru is known to have a relatively higher crime rate compared to the rest of Malaysia, and armed robberies and armed robberies could occur at night in run-down areas of the city. Travel documents and valuables are best stored in a hotel safe.

In Malaysia, some crimes are punishable by spanking. Being convicted of rape, vandalism, trespassing, bribery, staying longer with your visa, and certain other crimes could get you beaten. This is not a slap on the wrist! The blows from the thick rattan cane are very painful, will take some time to heal, and will likely leave a permanent scar.

Credit card fraud is a growing problem in this country, especially if you order from an online store during your stay. Use credit cards only at reputable stores. If you are unsure of the reputation of a certain store or service, there are several services available that can help identify fraud and scams, such as Trustedcompany.com, for whatever online service they want to use.

Never bring recreational drugs into Malaysia, not even as a transit passenger. Possession of even minute amounts can lead to a death sentence obligatory.

Corruption

While not as bad as Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia, corruption is still a major problem in Malaysia. Traffic police have been known to stop motorists to demand bribes of RM 100-200; this tends to happen more often to those who drive Singapore registered cars (recognizable by license plates). However, there have been some strong measures in this regard and bribery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Anyone who attempts to bribe public officials can be arrested on the spot and put in a dungeon overnight to be charged with the crime in the morning. If this happens on a Friday or holiday eve, you will spend a few nights in jail, as the courts are only open Monday through Friday. Don't let this dissuade you from seeking help; Malaysian police generally assist tourists.

Customs and immigration officials are generally quite clean, and unlike other mainland Southeast Asian countries, it is virtually unheard of for them to be asked to pay a bribe to stamp your passport, even at land border crossings. (Thai immigration across the border is another story.) However, check your passport before leaving when entering overland from the Singapore border, as immigration officers have been known to "forget" to stamp people, and you will be subject to fines of several thousand ringgit per entry. illegal when attempting to Leave Malaysia if your passport was not stamped upon entry.

Traffic Safety

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime and police breathalyzer tests are common. When walking, be careful when crossing the street. Vehicles will often ignore crosswalks (zebra). However, reports of harassment on the road during accidents are still common, so if you are involved in an accident, use extreme caution when negotiating or dial 999 for help.

Others

Many taxis will refuse to use the meter, even though there is an official rate. Most taxis now have a sticker on the back door informing tourists that haggling is prohibited. Taxi drivers, realizing that they are a tourist, can drive and take a very long route to reach their destination.

If you need a taxi late at night, it is best to use the taxi dialing service, as there have been incidents where taxis marked during those hours have been bogus or unregistered. An unregistered taxi driver could mug you or mug you with the help of other muggers. You are also more likely to get a metered taxi if you dial it on a street than at a taxi rank.

It is advisable to study maps and compare rates on the Internet before visiting the country. Knowing the distances between places is useful when negotiating with taxi drivers. They will not try to fool even a foreigner who clearly shows that he knows that the distance from point A to point B is 50 km and not 150 km.

Do not accept the first rates for intercity travel by car offered by hotels, as these could be up to twice the normal prices. In this case, negotiate directly with a taxi driver for a better and fairer price (for example, a hotel near Balok Beach, not far from Kuantan, asked for 800 RM for a trip to Johor Bahru, while a price negotiated with a taxi driver that could be found in the center of Kuantan was reduced to 400 RM normal). But for all this you need to know the exact distance and if possible even the exact itinerary between your starting point and arrival.

Public demonstrations are rare in Malaysia due to police repression. Should it occur, it can be dealt with with a heavy hand, so avoid them at all costs.

Finally, non-Muslims or Sunnis are generally not allowed to proselytize. In particular, trying to persuade Muslims to abandon their religion is illegal, and if you are caught doing this, you will at best be expelled from the country.

Natural disasters

Peninsular Malaysia is largely earthquake-free as there are no nearby fault lines, although tremors can occasionally be felt on the upper floors of tall buildings when a major earthquake strikes in neighboring Indonesia. East Malaysia, on the other hand, especially the area around Mount Kinabalu, experiences occasional earthquakes (like the fatal one that occurred in 2015). Typhoons are also extremely rare, although one struck the southern part of Johor in 2001. However, the monsoon season from November to January often results in flooding due to torrential rains and landslides have been known to occur, particularly in the east coast. Tsunamis are a rare occurrence, although Penang and some islands in the north of the west coast were hit by the infamous tsunami in 2004.

Health

Once there, it is preferable to drink bottled water. Tap water can be drunk straight from the tap as it is treated, but even the locals boil or filter it first just to be safe. When traveling, it is best to stick to bottled water, which is very inexpensive.

Ice in drinks can be made from tap water, but today most restaurants and even roadside stalls use the cylindrical variety with a hollow tube in the middle that are mass produced in the ice factories and are safer to consume.

Heat exhaustion is rare, but do consume plenty of fluids, wear a hat and sunscreen, and shower frequently!

Peninsular Malaysia is largely malaria-free, but there is significant risk in Borneo, especially in inland and rural areas. Dengue fever occurs in Malaysia, both in urban and rural areas, and can only be prevented by preventing mosquito bites. The mosquito that transmits dengue feeds during the day and is most active at dawn and dusk. If you experience sudden fever with pain and lethargy, seek medical attention immediately. Aspirin and ibuprofen should not be used until dengue fever has been ruled out. Mosquito repellants (ubat nyamuk) are widely available. Beware of mosquito coils, which can easily start fires - place them on a plate or other non-flammable surface and turn them off before going to sleep. The state of Sarawak (eastern part of Malaysia) has numerous cases of foot-and-mouth disease. This disease of animal origin can sometimes affect people, especially children. Watch for outbreaks of fever, blisters, or sores. It is advisable to follow a preventive treatment against malaria.

There is no mandatory vaccination, except if you come from a country where yellow fever occurs (some countries in South America and southern Africa). In this case, a vaccine is necessary.

Haze from burning vegetation in neighboring Indonesia can appear and disappear without warning from May to August, so travelers with respiratory illnesses should come prepared.

Most public toilets charge a small fee (usually between RM0.20-RM2.00, usually depending on the standard of the facilities), so have a few coins on hand. If the condition of the sitz toilets is questionable, use the squat toilets instead; both are generally available, and the latter are believed by some to be more hygienic and (if you can get used to them) as easy to use as sit-down toilets.

Health care

The standard of medical care in Malaysia is generally high, and Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a popular destination for medical tourism, with treatment costs generally much cheaper than in neighboring Singapore and western countries. Almost all Malaysian doctors can speak English fluently, while most other medical staff can converse in at least basic English.

Government health facilities are cheap but good, although they tend to be understaffed and as a result wait times are long. Due to shorter wait times and sometimes hotel-like comfort levels, most expats and visitors prefer to seek private medical care. The largest private healthcare groups in Malaysia are Parkway Pantai, which operates the well-known Gleaneagles and Pantai hospital chains, and KPJ Healthcare. Private medical costs can be high and having travel insurance is a very good idea.

HIV

The HIV rate in Malaysia was 0.5% of the population in 2014.

Respect

What's in a name? The malay namesfrom Malaysia they are usually named bin or binti (son / daughter) father's name. Mohammed bin Abdullah He used to be called Mohammed by his friends, and Mohammed by business. Sometimes the person's first name appears after Mohammed or Abdul (example: Mohammed Faizal bin Mohammed Nasser), which is why, in such a case, he would normally be called Mr. Faizal. The chinese put their last name first, so So Ah Heng is Mr. Tan for business and Ah Heng for his friends. Many have Western names, so it may also be known as John tan. The indian names are complex, but those from South India (Tamil) generally found in Malaysia have two patterns: first name to / l or to / p (anak lelaki (son of) / anak perempuan (daughter of)) father's name, or father's initial first name. Given names are usually long and can be shortened, so Thirumurugan a / l Govindasamy He may be called Thiru by his friends and Mr. Thiru by business. Other ethnic minorities, like Iban and Kadazan, they have their own naming conventions. The surefire method, therefore, is to ask how you would like the person to be addressed.

It is advisable to dress with respect, especially in rural areas (it is recommended to wear long pants or skirts, not shorts and covering the shoulders, but not essential). In more cosmopolitan cities such as Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Malacca and Ipoh, as well as in the East Malaysian states (Sabah and Sarawak), attitudes are more liberal. Women are not legally required to wear the hijab, known locally as the tudung, except when entering mosques, where it is mandatory for both Muslims and non-Muslims. As in many countries, it is best not to criticize the Malaysian government or royal families as a visitor. You may hear Malaysians criticize their own government, but you don't need to take sides; just listen and feel free to talk about your feelings about your own government. Bumiputera politics (laws that grant special rights to ethnic Malays not granted to other races) is a highly polarizing and sensitive topic, and is best avoided as a topic of conversation.

When entering a house or a place of worship, always remove your shoes (this is also often required in hostels). Also, never eat with your left hand or give a gift with your left hand, and never point your index finger (you can use a closed fist with your thumb). Also, do not point your feet or touch a person's head.

Swastikas are commonly seen in Hindu and Buddhist temples, and are considered a religious symbol by these communities. They do not emphatically represent Nazism or anti-Semitism, so Western visitors should not be offended by seeing them at their hosts' homes.

As a predominantly Muslim country, Malaysia tends to be conservative about sexuality. Public display of affection is tolerated in the largest and most diverse cities, but could attract unnecessary public attention. In more rural areas and in very conservative states like Kelantan and Terengganu on the east coast of the Peninsula, it is frowned upon and best avoided.

Big cities like Kuala Lumpur have a fairly active gay scene and you rarely hear about gay attacks. However, same-sex relationships are a taboo subject and "carnal relationships against the order of nature" are punishable by up to 20 years in jail and spanking (for men only) under colonial-era laws that generally they do not apply against consenting adult heterosexuals. Different states can also impose consecutive sharia punishments of up to 3 years and six lashes against Muslims of all genders.

Surroundings

• Thailand
• Singapore
• Brunei
• Indonesia