malaysia destination guide
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7/24/2019 Malaysia Destination Guide
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LEAGUE GO
VIETNAM T
DESTINATION
TRAVELERS GUIDE
7/24/2019 Malaysia Destination Guide
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HISTORYMalaysia has a rich historical
background. Because of its
strategic position between the
Indian Ocean and the South
China Sea, Malaysia has long
been the meeting place for
traders and travelers from West
and East. Hence its history is oneof continual interaction with
foreign powers and influences
Hindu-Buddhist influence was
strong in the centuries before the
coming of Islam. By1400, when
the Malacca Sultanate was at the
height of its power, Islam had
become a major influence. By
1511, however, Malacca hadfallen to the Portuguese.
Meanwhile the Dutch had been
establishing their influence in
Java. By 1641, the Dutch had also
taken over Malacca but they in
turn lost it to the British who had
been slowly consolidating their
hold on the Malay states
following Francis Lights arrival
in Penang in 1786. In 1815
Malacca was in British hands and
in 1819, Stamford Raffles
founded Singapore. Thereafter,
through treaties, relentless
political pressure and diplomacy,
the British slowly extended their
control over all the states of the
Malay Peninsula.
Sarawak, once part of the Sultan
of Bruneis Empire, was ruled by
the British adventurer James
Brooke and his descendants since
1841. In 1888, Sarawak and
North Borneo (Sabah) became
British protectorates. By the
1920s, all the states that
eventually comprised Malaysia
were under British control. The
first stirrings of Malaysian
nationalism were felt in the 193
following the end of World War
II, the momentum of nationalism
picked up again, culminating in
independence for the Federation
of Malaya in 1957. In 1963,
Malaysia was formed, bringing
together the stats of Malaya,Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.
Singapore, however, left the
federation in 1965.
Today, Malaysia is a strong
member of the six-member
Association of South-East Asia
Nations (ASEAN). The
association, comprising Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, MalaysThailand, the Philippines and
Singapore, was formed to
promote regional growth and
cooperation among member
nations.
Malaysia is a melting pot of
various races. Its population of
million people, for all of its
complex ethnic set-up, has been
remarkably peaceful. Mutual
respect for each others culture,
traditions, religious beliefs and
way of life has created a peacefu
social environment, stable
political climate and a strong
economy for the nation.
The government, headed by the
Prime Minister and members of
his cabinet, is an alliance of
parties representing differentracial groups. The Supreme Hea
of State is the Yang Di Pertuan
Agog (King). He is a
constitutional monarch elected
for a term of 5 years by his fello
rulers from the other states.
POPULATIONMalaysia has a population of
approximately 28.3 millionpeople, with the vast majority
of them living in peninsular
Malaysia. The rest live on the
Malaysian portion of the island
of Borneo.
TIMELocal time is GMT +8 hours.
VISASU.S. citizens do not need a visa for
tourist or business travel to
Malaysia for a stay up to 3 months
but a valid U.S. Passport is
required.
INSURANCEMedical insurance is
recommended. Travelers older
than one year coming frominfected areas require a yellow
fever vaccination certificate.
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LANGUAGEBahasa Malaysia is the official language. Chinese dialects and
Tamil are still widely used in their respective communities.
English is widely spoken in the larger cities and in hotels, shops
and most restaurants.
COMMON BAHASA PHRASES
Hello Halo or HeyHow are you? Apa kabar?
Thank you Terima kasih
Youre welcome Terma kasih kembali
Goodbye Selamat tinggal
Please Silakan
Im sorry Maaf
What is your name? Namamu saipa?
My name is _________ Nama saya __________
Yes Ya
No Tidak
Where is the toilet? Dimana toilet sialan?
How do I get to __? Bafaimana saya bias ke ___?
Water Air
How much is? Berapa harganya?
CURRENCYThe Malaysian Ringit (MYR), also referred to as the Malaysian
Dollar, is divided into 100 sen. Malaysian banks charge in the
region of US$2-3 for foreign exchange transactions.
Moneychangers are generally quicker to deal with and do notcharge commission; their rates however are variable. Pounds or
dollars are the easiest to exchange. Travelers cheques can be
exchanged at banks and some hotels. All major credit cards are
accepted at up market hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are
widely available.
CLIMATEMalaysia has a tropical, humid climate with temperatures
averaging 86F (30C), though it is cooler in the highland areas.The major change in seasons is marked by the arrival of the
monsoons that bring heavy downpours on the east coast of
Peninsula Malaysia, the northeastern part of Sabah and the
western end of Sarawak (from November to February). Boat trips
to the islands do not run during the height of the monsoon season.
The best time to visit Malaysia is between April and October.
CREDIT CARDSCredit cards are widely accecpted.
TIPPINGService charges of 10% are added to
in most leading hotels and restauran
Where it is not included, a tip of 10-
of the bill would be appropriate.
Airport porter/hotel bellboy:
$1.00 - $ 2.00 US per bag.
Your tour guide:
$10.00 - $ 12.00 US per person per d
Driver/assistants:
$ 6.00 - $ 7.00 US per person per day
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HEALTHSome tropical illnesses are prevalent in Malaysia
and travelers should seek medical advice regarding
any recommended vaccinations before traveling.
Hepatitis A and B are common, as is dengue fever,
which has no vaccination or immunization. There
has been an increase in cases of dengue fever since
January 2005. Malaria risks are isolated to the
inland regions; the exception is Sabah, where there
is an all-year risk.
Dysentery and travelers' diarrhea afflict travelers in
Malaysia so it is advisable to drink only bottled or
boiled water and avoid uncooked meat, fish andvegetables, unpeeled fruit, ice and salads. A further
health hazard in Malaysia is smoke haze and air
pollution, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, which has
the worst air quality in Asia with very high Benzene
pollution levels. This could aggravate cardiac or
respiratory problems. There have been outbreaks of
bird flu, but no human infections have been
reported, and in September 2007 Malaysia's
Agriculture Minister declared the country free of
the deadly form of avian influenza. Travelersshould still avoid contact with domestic, caged or
wild birds and ensure that poultry and egg dishes
are well cooked as a precaution. The hospitals in
Kuala Lumpur and other cities are of a high
standard.
ETIQUETTEMalaysians tend to be fairly conservative in their
approach to social interactions. It is not uncommon
to see younger people bowing their heads as a sign
of respect when passing by an older person.
Challenging a figure of authority in public would be
regarded as completely improper etiquette.
Generally, any open display of anger or outrage,
however deserved in your eyes would be met with
disdain.
When entering a Malaysian house, you should be
expected that you are to remove your shoes, and you
should greet your host with a handshake, followed
by placing your right hand over your heart. Malaysia
is largely Muslim and therefore Islamic customs
should be respected, especially during the month ofRamadan when eating, drinking and smoking in
public should be avoided, as it is forbidden by
Islamic law. Dress, particularly for women, should
be conservative, and arms and legs should be
covered when visiting places of worship. It is
customary to remove shoes before entering homes
and places of worship. When eating or exchanging
money, the right hand is used and do not point your
foot at someone, it is considered very rude.
PHOTOGRAPHSIt is polite to ask permission before taking
photographs, Some people may take offense.
DRUGSIn Malaysia, the answer is simple dont. Drug
trafficking caries a mandatory death penalty.
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PEOPLESelamat Datang is the traditional Malaysian
greeting that welcomes visitors to this vibrant and
exotic country. Ethnically diverse cultures share the
same lush landscape and create a fusion of cultural
styles, cooking and religions that is distinctly
Malaysian. Festivals throughout the year mark the
Malay, Chinese and Indian holidays, as well as
those of the indigenous Orang Asli and the tribes of
Sabah and Sarawak.
Malaysia's multi-racial society contains many
ethnic groups. Malays comprise a majority of just
over 50%. By constitutional definition, all Malays
are Muslim. About a qu