It is a very multi-cultural city reflecting centuries of immigration from the Arab nations, China and India.
It is a very multi-cultural city reflecting centuries of immigration from the Arab nations, China and India. The national language of Malaysia is Malay, but English is widely spoken. Among all of the cultures in Malaysia, a bow is the most common form of greeting. Just as the British greeting, "How do you do?," all cultures have their rhetorical form of greeting. The Chinese greeting usually involves food. It will be in the form of "Have you eaten? Or "Have you taken food?" Just answer yes. The typical Malaysian greeting is "Where are you going?" The response commonly is "For a walk." or "Nowhere of importance ..."
Gestures also have varied cultural interpretations. Among Indians, a side-to-side of one's head indicates agreement, but it is not quite the same as a Western negative nod which is a more pronounced gesture.
Personal space may also vary from culture to culture. In general, two to three feet is comfortable, but Indians prefer three to three and a-half feet.
Gift giving has many pitfalls, so one must read up on all of the restrictions pertinent to each culture before presenting a gift. Consider that you are dealing with Muslims, Hindus and the Chinese culture and each have their own acceptable and prohibited customs and foods.
In the words of a US citizen who has worked in Kuala Lumpur for over two and one-half years, "KL is a very agreeable and easy to live in city. It is not too spread out and offers all of the comforts and amenities found at home. However, factor in that it will rain sometime every day and when it rains, the traffic becomes terrible and you will need to calculate in more travel time"
Kuala Lumpur is a difficult city to move within. City buses are not recommended and taxi drivers are very independent. If they are kind enough to stop for you, they will not turn on the meter (which is required by law), but will quote you whatever they want to charge. If it is raining, they will charge even more. Don't bother calling for a taxi - they rarely show up. There are some taxi stands in the city, but the drivers do not necessarily pick up the first person in line; they look the crowd over and pick up whom they please.
"The exception to this," says one KL advisor, "is travel to and from the airport. The Airport Limo Service will pick you up at your address in Kuala Lumpur and take you to the airport for a reasonable fixed rate. They can be ordered ahead of time and always show up on time. Conversely, upon arrival you can go to the taxi ticket counter and prepay your ride, but only to one specific address. You cannot share the cost of the ride with someone who is being dropped off at another address.
Getting An Appointment
As for making appointments, start with e-mail and then follow up with telephone call. When dealing with the government, start with a call and then they will ask you to fax them a letter. Confirmation of meetings may take several calls and then nothing may be confirmed until the last minute.
A few more tips for travelers:
• Hotels usually include breakfast in their rates.
• You will have to pay for everything in ringgit, but ATM's are found everywhere.
• Be careful of credit card fraud.
• Always be aware of your surroundings no matter how safe you feel.
Don't miss the Malaysian Malls and the central market. If you have some personal time, visit some other towns such as Melaca and Penang. The price is very cheap to travel and Air Asia and Firefly airlines make it very easy to book.
TIME — Greenwich Mean Time +8. No daylight savings time.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS — US Embassy: (60-3) 2168-5000, available 24 hours a day.
Canadian Embassy: (60-3) 2718-3333. Emergencies: 999.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS — US citizens are required to have a passport valid for at least six months to enter Malaysia, but do not need to obtain a visa in advance if their stay is 90 days or less. While in Malaysia, however, they should carry their passports with them at all times.
CUSTOMS — Malaysia's customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export of items such as firearms and narcotics. One liter of alcohol and one carton of cigarettes is allowed.
CRIME — Violent crime involving tourists and expatriates is relatively uncommon. Travelers in Malaysia should avoid using credit cards, except at reputable establishments, and credit card numbers should be closely safeguarded at all times.
MEDICAL ADVISORIES — Make certain that food and drinking water is safe. Don't buy from street vendors. Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes. Make certain food is fully cooked. Avoid dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized. There have been no reported cases of avian flu for the past several years.
CURRENCY — Malaysia's currency is the ringgit, printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.
TIPPING — Not really expected, but in a luxury hotel consider tipping RM5 per bag.
GROUND TRANSPORT — Getting around town can be a real challenge. Buses are not recommended and taxi drivers can be very independent.
BUSINESS HOURS — Banks are open from 10am to 3:30pm Mon-Fri; from 9:30-11:30am on Saturday. Government offices are open from 8am to 12:45pm and 2 to 4:15pm Mon-Fri; 8am to 12:45pm on Saturday. Shops may open as early as 6am. Department stores and malls open as late as 11am and stay open as late as 9pm.
ELECTRICITY — Voltage is 220-240 AC 50 cycles. Three point square plugs required.