Travel Guide to Malaysia

Location
Located between 2º and 7º north of the Equator, Peninsula Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsula Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are north of Indonesia in Borneo while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei.

Shopping
Shopping in Malaysia ranges from exclusive department stores to street markets. Bargaining is expected in the markets, unless fixed prices are displayed. Kuala Lumpur is a popular shopping destination, rivaling Singapore and Hong Kong. Suria KLCC, a shopping mall with a spectacular fountain, gardens and a beautiful piazza, houses a great selection of leading couture outlets. Times Square, the city’s largest mall, Star Hill and Lot 10 are popular shopping centers. The islands of Labuan and Langkawi are duty-free zones. Cameras, pens, watches, cosmetics, perfume and electronic goods are available duty-free throughout Malaysia. Malaysian specialty goods include pewterware, silverware and brassware; batik; jewelry; pottery; and songket. Enquire at Malaysian Royal Customs and Excise about claiming cashback on duty-free goods.

Geography

Geographically, Malaysia is as diverse as its culture. There are two parts to the country, 11 states in the peninsula of Malaysia and two states on the northern part of Borneo.

History

The history of the Malaysian area can be seen as four successive phases of outside influence, followed by the final assertion of Malay independence.

The first phase saw the domination of Hindu as well as Buddhist culture imported from India, which reached its peak in the great Srivijaya civilisation based in Sumatra, which ruled most of the Malay world from the 7th to the 14th centuries.

The second phase began with the arrival of Islam, which began in the 10th century, and led to the conversion of most of the Malay-Indonesian world and the breakup of the Srivijayan empire into many smaller sultanates, the most prominent of which was the Melaka (Malacca). Islamic culture has had a profound influence on the Malay peoples, but has also been influenced by them.

The third phase was the intrusion into the area of the European colonial powers: first the Portuguese, who captured Melaka in 1511, then the Dutch and finally the British, who established bases at Penang and Singapore. European domination led to the most fateful event in Malay history – the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1824, which drew a frontier between British Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies, which became Indonesia. This arbitrary division of the Malay world has proved permanent.

European domination also led to the fourth phase of foreign influence: the mass immigration of Chinese and Indian workers to meet the needs of the colonial economy created by the British in the Malay Peninsula and North Borneo. The Chinese and Indians posed an economic threat to the Malays, and at one time threatening to make the Malays a minority in their own country.

British power in East Asia was fatally wounded by the Japanese occupation of the region in 1942-45. Although short-lived, the Japanese occupation unleashed the forces of colonial nationalism in Malaya as elsewhere. But Malay nationalism triggered a reaction from the Chinese, who feared Malay and Islamic domination and turned in large numbers to the Malayan Communist Party. It took a tough military response from the British, and concessions by both the Malay and Chinese political leaderships, to end the Communist insurgency and bring about the establishment of an independent, multi-racial Federation of Malaya in 1957.

In 1963 Malaya became Malaysia with the acquisition of the British territories in North Borneo and Singapore. The Chinese-majority Singapore and the Federation decided to part ways in 1965. Malaysia survived this crisis as well as confrontation with Indonesia, but nearly succumbed to its own internal tensions in the race riots of 1969. This crisis led to the imposition of emergency rule and a curtailment of political life and civil liberties which has never been reversed. Since 1970 the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has ruled Malaysia almost as a one-party state, co-opting the Chinese and Indian leaderships through the device of the “National Front coalition.”

Malaysia under UMNO rule has prospered mightily, reaching close to “first world” living standards by the 1990s. This growing prosperity has helped minimise political discontent, but has masked a decisive shift of power in favour of the Malays. Successive UMNO governments have been determined to break the Chinese domination of the economy and the Indian domination of the professions, and to create Malay business and professional classes. This has been achieved by imposing the Malay language on the education system and through systematic discrimination in favour of Malays. These measures caused great resentment, but the results have been the creation of a more genuinely integrated and multi-cultural society.

Climate

The climate in Malaysia is tropical but without extremely high temperatures. Days are very warm, while nights are fairly cool. The main rainy season in the east runs between November and February, while August is the wettest period on the west coast. East Malaysia has heavy rains (November to February) in Sabah and in Sarawak. However, it is difficult to generalise about the country’s climate, as rainfall differs on the east and west coasts according to the prevailing monsoon winds (northeast or southwest).

Basic Information

Language
Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the official language but English is widely spoken.

Currency
The ringgit (M$), also called Malaysian dollar = 100 sen (cents). Coins range from 5 sen to 1 ringgit; banknotes from 1 to 1000 ringgit

Electricity
200 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are usually English style, with three flat pins

Banks
Banks are generally open Monday to Friday 10 a.m.–3 p.m and Saturdays 9.30–11 a.m.

Driving
Traffic drives on the left.

Time Difference
GMT + 8, all year round.

Tipping and local customs
A service charge is added in hotels and restaurants. Taxi drivers are not normally tipped.

Water
Bottled mineral water is recommended

Visas
A visa for Irish passport holders is not required for stays of up to three months. Passport must be valid for at least six months from arrival date.

Local Tourist Board Information
www.tourism.gov.my

Tourist Info

What makes it so special?

Malaysia is a country of extreme contrasts, diverse landscapes and eclectic cultures.

From the hustle and bustle and towering skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur, to the beautiful island paradise of Langkawi, to the spectacular rainforest and amazing wildlife of Borneo.

The people of Malaysia are especially warm and welcoming and are sure to make your holiday to Malaysia one to remember.

Where to Visit

Kuala Lumpur

Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). The tallest buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, are a commanding sight. Together with the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), it symbolises Kuala Lumpur’s, and Malaysia’s, rapid rise as a developed nation.

For more details on places to visit in Kuala Lumpur click here

Penang

Don’t miss the Colonial Quarter, Little India, Chinatown and the historic port settlements. Heritage tours are recommended if you want to check out every nook, cranny and side street. To get a panoramic view of Georgetown, check out the viewing gallery on the 58th floor of Komtar.

For more details on places to visit in Penang click here

Langkawi

Underwater World Langkawi at Pantain Cenang is one of Malaysia’s largest aquariums with much marine life to see. You can walk through an underwater tunnel to the marine gardens to view some of the creatures in their natural habitat.

For more details on places to visit in Langkawi click here

Borneo

A trip to see the Orangutans in their natural environment is a must see.