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Background

• Total population: 24.4 million
• Currency: Ringgit Malaysia (RM)
• Languages: Bahasa Melaysia (official), English, Mandarin and other dialects such as Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hainan and Foochow, Tamil,Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Thai, etc.
• Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one- third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea,
• Climate: Tropical - generally warm and humid; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
• Religions: Muslim, Buddhist, Taoism, Hindu, Christian and Sikhism
• Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Haji, Thaipusam, Awal Muharram, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, Wesak Day, Sabah Kaamatan Festival, Sarawak Gawai Festival, Malaysia's National Day, Deepavali, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Christmas

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Local Information

• Transportation
  - By Air - Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier, currently flies to 95 destinations worldwide.
  - By Rail - Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM), or Malayan Railways, connects to both Singapore and Bangkok.
  - By Bus or Car - Entering Malaysia by rental car is not difficult from either Thailand or Singapore, and the North-South highway makes travelling along the west coast quite convenient.
  - By Taxis - Public taxis are easily available and can be booked in advance.
  
• Banking Hours
  Generally banking hours in Malaysia are from 9:00 am – 4:30pm (Mondays – Fridays), although some banks may extend their banking hours occasionally. Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are available in convenient locations throughout the country. All the main credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted in major institutions and an ever growing number of shops and restaurants.
  
• Electricity Voltage/Plug Type
  240v; Frequency: 50H/Rectangular blade plug
  
• Health
  Malaysia is on the whole, a healthy place to live in. The general health indices compare favourably with those in Western countries. The hospitals are well equipped and offer comprehensive medical facilities. Specialist services are also available throughout Malaysia. Government medical services are available to all residents at a nominal charge

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Driving in Malaysia

If you are in possession of an International Drivers License, getting a Probationay Driving License in Malaysia will present no problems. You will need to fulfill certain conditions and submit required documents during application to get a valid driving license. For further infromation, please log onto the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) website at 'www.jpj.gov.my' for more details or call JPJ Headquarters directly at 603-8886 6400.

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Visa requirements

Passport validity:
Visitors to Malaysia must hold a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period. Most nationalities do not require visas for social or business visits. For further information, please contact the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission or Tourism Malaysia office. Alternatively, please visit the Malaysian Immigration Department's website (www.imi.gov.my) or Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia website (www.kln.gov.my/?m_id=53).

Visitor's visas:
No visa is required for U.S.A citizens visiting Malaysia for social, business or academic purposes (except for employment).

No visa is required for a stay of less than one month for nationals of all ASEAN countries except Myanmar. For a stay exceeding one month a visa will be required, except for nationals of Brunei and Singapore.

For nationals of Israel, visas are required and permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Internal Security.

For nationals of Serbia and Montenegro, visas are required and permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Work permits:
A work permit is required for those seeking employment in Malaysia. It is usually obtained for the employee by the employer once in the country. Employees and their families can enter Malaysia with social visas issued by Malaysian Immigration officials upon arrival. For details, log on to "www.imi.gov.my"

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Accommodation

Hotel accommodation is widely available throughout Malaysia and is priced depending on its rating.

Malaysians generally live in landed properties (bungalows, double storey / single storey lots), condominium and apartments which are personally owned or rented. Purchase of properties are available, depending on whether you are looking for a first hand deal or a sub-sale deal. The cost ranges widely depending on what type of property you are looking for. You can generally rent a decent double story home or condominium in the city starting from RM1,500 (depending on location) As for apartments, you will be able to rent a 2-3 bedroom unit from RM 800 (depending on location).

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Pets

Pets are a norm in Malaysian households and generally include cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, fish and a variety of birds. However it is good to take note that that Muslims do not touch dogs as it is part of their religious practices not to do so.

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Disclaimer

• This section is intended as a general guide for reference only.
• The information contained in this section should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice in individual cases. Future changes in information, regulations, legislation, tax levels and practice could affect the information in this site.
• The information shown is based on date or information obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but HSBC makes no representation and accepts no responsibility as to its accuracy or completeness, and will not be held liable for damages arising out of any person’s reliance upon this information.
• Information sourced from Immigration Department and Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.