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Malaysia country information

Malaysia map
Malaysia
Area: 329,847 sq km
Population: 27,730,000
Population density: 84 per sq km
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Passport & Visa
Passport Required?
British Yes
Australian Yes
Canadian Yes
USA Yes
Other EU Yes
Visa Required?
British No
Australian No
Canadian No
USA No
Other EU No/1

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months apart from:
(a) 1. nationals of Bulgaria, who may stay visa-free for up to one month.

Visa Note

(a) Nationals may still require a pass upon arrival, even if they are permitted to enter Malaysia visa-free. (b) All visitors must have proof of adequate funds and an onward or return sea or air ticket. (c) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

Visa Restrictions:
The government of Malaysia refuses admission and transit to nationals of Israel; but will accept other passports containing Israeli stamps or visas.

Getting there

Getting There by Air

The national airline is Malaysia Airlines (MH) (website: www.malaysiaairlines.com ).

Note tour.tk: best low cost airline for Sout East Asia: Air Asia

Approximate Flight Times

From London to Kuala Lumpur is 12 hours 30 minutes; from New York is 20 hours 20 minutes.

Main Airports

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

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

Kuching (KCH) is 11km (7 miles) from the city and is the main gateway to Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
Departure Tax
MYR45; may be included in the air fare.

Getting There by Water

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

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

Various cruise ships visit Malaysia's ports.

Getting There by Rail

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM Berhad) (tel: (03) 2267 1200; website: www.ktmb.com.my ) runs Malaysia's train services. Direct services operate to and from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur and between Butterworth and Bangkok (Thailand). There is also a 41-hour round trip available from the Eastern and Oriental Express (tel: (020) 7921 4000, in the UK; website: www.orient-express.com ), a luxury train service modelled on the famous Orient Express, which leaves from Singapore, journeys through Kuala Lumpur and heads north to Bangkok from where it returns to Singapore.
Rail Passes
KTM Rail Pass: available to foreign tourists (except Singaporeans) and valid for five, 10 or 15 days. Passes permit unlimited travel on Intercity train services on the KTM network and into Singapore. Supplements apply for sleeping berths and on night trains. Passes can be purchased through agents selling rail tickets and at major railways stations.

Getting There by Road

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

Several companies operate air-conditioned coach services to and throughout Malaysia, including Transnasional Express (tel: (03) 2273 6473; website: www.nadi.com.my ).
Cycling & Maps
Cost of living
Malaysia: all prices in Malaysia Ringgits (MYR)
drinks and snacks food: local markets; restaurants; and stores

water
juice
soft drink (can)
soft drink (bottle
soft drink (bottle)
fresh juice

1 litre
1 litre
355ml
600ml
1.5 litre
glass
1.00-1.50
6.50
1.60-1.80
2.00-2.30
3.00-3..40
2.00-2.50
bread loaf-white
bread loaf-whole grain
650g loaf
800g
3.00
6.75
roti chanai with daal
roti telur with daal
nasi / mee goreng
soya based dish
pisang goreng
maggi noodles

each
each
per serve
per serve
½ banana
5 x 70g

0.80
1.30
3.00-3.50
3.00-5.00
0.50
3.40
beer
wine
325ml
750ml
7.50-10.00
20 +
teabags
coffee
Nescafe instant
filter coffee - local
box 25
street stall
125g
500g
6.00
1.00-2.00
5.90
17.50
tofu
eggs
rice
pasta
300g
per dozen
1 kg
500g
0.70
4.20
7.50
4.00

milk
yoghurt
cheese
Magnum icecream

1 litre
180g
500g
each
3.00- 4.00
3.50
12.90
tba
potatoes
onions
tomatoes
spinach
kg
kg
kg
kg
3.50
6.00
6.00
8.00
cornflakes
malaysian snacks
chips / crisps
375g pack
175g pack
56-65g pack
10.00
1.00-3.00
tba
bananas
oranges
apples
pineapple
dragon fruit
kg
kg
kg
each
each

4.00
8.00
7.00
1-3
1.50-2.50

salted peanuts
dried mango
200g
100g
1.40
2.80

chocolate (dark)
swiss roll

biscuits-plain/cream
egg custard tart

180g block
260g

500g/150g
each
5.90
3.90

3.30 / 2.00
1.00-1.50
pineapple tinned
corn oil
500g
500ml
6.00
4.70
peanut paste
jam
500g jar
360g
5.90
7.80
 
accommodation personal
budget city hostel
budget city hotel
10-25 per dorm bed
35-60 (double) with bathroom
deodorant roll on
soap
shampoo
toothbrush
toothpaste
disposable razor
toilet paper
50ml
150g
200ml
per 3 pack
175 ml
5 pack
10 rolls
9.50
1.50
8.00
6.90
2.60
13.50
9.90
camping no real campsites
wild camping on beaches and in forests
internet 1.50-2.50 per hour

* tba = price to be announced
* January 2009: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 3.67 MYR
all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in Malaysia. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with an occasional craving for a bit of luxury.
Accommodation
Acommodation we used while in Malaysia (February 2008): (prices based on two people sharing)
Star system explained: from 0 to ***** where 0 is a total disaster and ***** is luxurious (and out of our price range)
         
City / town: Name accommodation: Our experience: Price: Stars:
         
Batu Pahat Hotel Sentosa a little grungy MYR 38 **
Cherating Ranting Resort ok room, pleasant surroundings MYR 50 **
Dungun Sri Gate Hotel comfortable, clean & convenient MYR 50 **½
Kota Bharu Ideal Travellers' House very basic room, but cheap MYR 18 **
Kota Tinggi Nasha Hotel best pick in town MYR 48 **½
Kuala Besut Nan Hotel very clean, tiny bathroom MYR 45 **½
Kuala Rompin Hotel Kencana light, cheary and cheap MYR 35 **½
Kuala Terenganu Ping Anchorange Travellers Inn giant rooms / offices MYR 38 **
Melaka Samudea Guesthouse little box with no windows MYR 30
Mersing Omar's Backpackers adequate for this budget price MYR 20 **½
Muar Hotel Riverview a steel MYR 65 ****
Pekan Hotel Pekan basic, old, shared bath, cheap MYR 18 **
Pontian Kechil Hotel Seaview luxury, aircon, close to rest. MYR 70 ***
Port Dickson Hotel New Meng Yen small room, but clean MYR 35 **
Salak Tinggi Transit Budget Hotel bright, clean, super friendly MYR 100 ****

Food & drink
Bike shops
   
 
Le Run is a nationwide bicycle manufacturer. It is the official distributor of Shimano, Giant, Topeak, Colnago, Marin and more in Malaysia and they have shops in Singapore and Indonesia too. They have a long list of Malaysian bicycle shops (conveniently listed per state) on their website:
Le Run Malaysia
   
Alor Setar Soobeng Trading
4 Pekan Melayu
05000 Alor Setar,
Kedah Darul Aman.
Tel: 604-7310499
   
Ampang Syarikat Perniagaan Hee Hong
18, Jalan Nirwana 1,
Taman Nirwana,
68000 Ampang.
Tel: 603-92854681
   
Ipoh Perniagaan Mewah Jaya
737, Taman Tasik Jaya
Jalan Kuala Kangsar
31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel : 05-5469899
   
Ipoh Syarikat Kedai Basikal Soon Yik
155, Jalan Pasir Puteh
31650 Ipoh , Perak
Tel : 05-2552577
   
Kota Kinabalu Kedai Aik Huat
No4, Jalan Sireh,
Tanjong Aru,
88100 Kota Kinabalu Sabah
Tel: 6088-253 549
   
Kuantan Kuantan Mountain Bike Centre
23 Jalan Datuk Lim Hoe Lok,
25200 Kuantan, Pahang
Tel: 6012-95522488
   
Kuching W.G. Enterprise
36A, 1st Floor, Nam Meng Building,
Ban Hock Road,
93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Tel : 082-238239
   
Melaka Sin Bee Hin Bike Centre ***
47, Jalan Ong Kim Wee
75300 Melaka
Malaysia
tel./fax 06-283 1477
mob: 016-232 1381
website: www.sinbeehin.tripod.com
   
Miri Hiap Ho Motor
Boulevard Centre 2397
Lot 31, 3 Km,
Jalan Miri Pujut,
98000 Miri Sarawak
Tel: 6085-423 589
   
Muar Sykt Seng Hin **
No 12-1A Bawah
Jalan Dato HJ Hassan
84000 Muar, Johor
Tel: 06-9522933
Fax: 06-9548528
   
Penang Dreamwerkz Cycles Sdn Bhd
163F-1 Wisma Seri Perak
Jalan Perak 10150
Pulau Pinang Malaysia
Tel. (+60) 4 226 2181
Fax (+60) 4 226 3181
Website: www.dreamwerkzcycles.com
   
Penang Lim Bicycle Shop
16, Jalan Mayang Pasir
Bayan Baru, 11950
Bayan Lepas, Penang
(Opposite Sunshine Square)
Tel: 012-4556626
   
Petaling Jaya Bike Pro Center
31 Jalan SS24/8
Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya
Selangor Malaysia 47301
Tel. 603 - 7805 1989
Fax 603 - 7803 3995
Website: http://bikeprobicycle.com
   
Petaling Jaya KSH Bicycle SDN BHD
No. 3, Jalan SS2/3,
47300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor D. E., Malaysia
Tel: 603-7877 0450
Fax: 603-7877 7450
Website: www.kshbikes.com
   
Petaling Jaya The Bike Boutique
Unit W105, Level 1, West Wing
Metropolitan Square, Jalan PJU 8/1
Bandar Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya
Selangor D.E., Malaysia
Tel. (+60) 3 77277 824
Fax (+60) 3 77277 824
Website: www.thebikeboutique.com
   

 

Climate
climate chart Johor Bahru climate chart Kota Bahru
climate chart Kuala Lumpur climate chart Melaka Malacca
Road distances

Malaysia road distance chart

     
     

Detailed distance chart from our trip through Malaysia February / March 2008 (km/alti)

km
total km
Kuala Lumpur - Melaka - Singapore - Kuantan - Kota Bahru    
       
Kuala Lumpur International Airport Port Dickson
56
Port Dickson Melaka
84
140
Melaka Muar
46
186
Muar Parit Jawa
15
201
Parit Jawa Semerah
19
220
Semerah Batu Parat
19
239
Batu Parat Senggarang
25
264
Senggarang Rengit
14
278
Rengit Benut
13
291
Benut Pontian Kechil
28
319
Pontian Kechil Pekan Nenas
18
337
Pekan Nenas turn off no.1 highway
24
361
turn-off no.1 highway Singapore border (causeway)
19
380
border crossing Singapore
39
419
   
Singapore Changi Ferry Terminal (ferry to Tanjong Belungkor)
16
Tanjong Belungkor (Malaysia) turn-off highway 89 / 92
18
34
t.o. highway 89 / 92 Kota Tinggi
54
88
Kota Tinggi Jemaluang
73
161
Jemaluang Mersin
21
182
Mersin Endau
39
221
Endau Kuala Rompin
24
245
Kuala Rompin Nenasi
44
289
Nenasi Pekan
44
333
Pekan Kuantan
50
383
   
Kuantan Cherating
50
Cherating Cukai
15
65
Cukai Kemasik
25
90
Kemasik Kertih
9
99
Kertih Paka
16
115
Paka Dungun
22
137
Dungun Rantau Abang
17
154
Rantau Abang Marang
44
198
Marang Kuala Terengganu
17
215
Kuala Terengganu Batu Rakit (via Seberang Takir ferry)
19
234
Batu Rakit Penarik
35
269
Penarik Kuala Besut
52
321
Kuala Besut Tok Bali
13
334
Tok Bali Bachok
21
355
Bachok Kota Bharu
24
379
   
Kota Bharu Pengkalan Kubor
27
27
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