Visiting Malaysia In 2020 ; Basic Things To Know Before Your Trip
Situated in South East Asia; Malaysia consists of two non-contiguous regions; Peninsular Malaysia (Semenanjung Malaysia) and East Malaysia which is on the island of Borneo that offers dynamic cities, awesome food, pristine beaches, idyllic islands and wildlife-packed rainforests for you to discover.
Whether you want to enjoy our traditional food or soak up the tropical sun on the beaches, the tropical paradise is home to a fascinating culture, building, UNESCO sites, world – renowned beaches and more to offer.
2020 is the Visit Malaysia year and before heading here; these are the thing that you might want to take note with before coming to Malaysia.
#1. Culture
In general, Malaysians can be divided into four group which is the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians and others. Each ethnic group has its own language and cultural practices. Therefore; we have a packed calendar of festivals throughout the year.
Official religion of the country is Islam but other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity are widely and freely practised.
#2. Currency
The monetary unit of the country is Ringgit Malaysia; it is written as RM or MYR.
The exchange rate is valued at USD1 = RM4.27 and foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and money changers across the country. Do take note that some currencies are not easily available.
Notes are available in RM1 (smallest note), RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50 and RM100 denominations while coins are issued in 5,10,20 and 50 sen (cents) denominations.
You can view the latest exchange rate here : www.xe.com
#3. Wheather
There are no winter here as Malaysia experiences tropical weather year-round and temperatures range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF) and expect much colder temperatures at higer elevations with temperatures around 15°C (59°F) to 25°C (77°F).
Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500 mm. However, the wettest parts of Malaysia (hill slopes of Sarawak) will receive a mean annual more than 5,000mm.
Hence, please be prepare with an umbrella and wear comfortable clothes.
#4. Practicalities
Time : Malaysia is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S Standard Time.
Electricity : Voltage around the country measure at 220 – 240 volt AC at 50 cycles per second and we use standard 3-pin plugs and sockets (type G). You can check if you need a power plug adapter or voltage converter here : Power Plug Sockets Malaysia
5. Passport / Visa
Visitors to Malaysia must hold a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period. Immigration and customs checkpoints are situated at all air, sea, road and rail entry points.
Free Visa :
Commonwealth Citizens (except Bangladesh/India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), British Protected Persons or Citizens of the Republic of Ireland and Citizens of Switzerland, Netherlands, San Marino and Liechtenstein.
Free Visa For Social & Business Visit Not Exceeding Three Months :
Citizens of Albania, Austria, Algeria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Republic of Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Italy, United States of America, Bahrin, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, North Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia,Qatar United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Tunisia
One Month Nationals Of Asean Countries
14 DAYS Citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, South Yemen
1 WEEK Citizens of Bulgaria, Romania and Russia
For more info, you may visit the Malaysia Immigration Department