Malaysia
Location
Malaysia is situated right in the
heart of South East Asia and is divided into two geographical sections: Peninsular
Malaysia and the East Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak in North Borneo.
The two parts are separated 650km (403 miles) apart by the South China Sea.Peninsular
Malaysia's neighbors are Thailand and Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak border Kalimantan
(the Indonesian part of Borneo) and Sarawak surrounds the tiny enclave of Brunei.
The Andaman Sea is on the West Coast of the peninsula. The East Coast of the
peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak all adjoin the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia
accounts for 40% of the country's landmass. There are several mountain ranges
running north- south along the backbone of the peninsula. A wide, fertile plain
trails the West Coast, while a narrow coastal plain runs along the east. Sabah
and Sarawak are covered by dense jungles and have large river networks. These
rivers are still the main means of transportation to the natives of these two
states. Over 60% of the country is still rainforest, and there are 8000 species
of flowering plants (in Peninsular Malaysia alone) which includes 2000 tree
species, 800 different orchids and 200 types of palm, not forgetting a myriad
of wildlife animals. There are also an abundance and variety of bird populations
in the world that can be found in East Malaysia.
Travellers Essentials: Things you need to know
Climate
Malaysia is hot and humid all year
round. Temperatures are usually between 20-30°C
(68-86°F); humidity is usually 90%. The East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
has a real rainy season although the country gets monsoon climate.
The wettest season on the West Coast of the peninsula is between September
and December; on the East Coast and in Sabah and Sarawak, it's between
October and February. Rain often comes in short, strong bursts and generally
hides the sun temporarily.
People
With a population of about 18 million,
one of the extraordinary facets of Malaysia
is indeed its people. Malaysia has traditionally been a meeting point
for traders and travelers from both the East and West because of its central
location, between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. As a result,
Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays,
Chinese, Indians and numerous indigenous people. The country's racial,
religious and cultural harmony is something you'll truly come to appreciate.
Naturally, from this richly mixed populace spawns an endless list of
festivals and celebrations, all year round.Indigenous
Malays constitute roughly 62 percent of the population. But immigrants,
especially Chinese (who make up 30 percent of the population), have
a tremendous presence in the country. Most of the nation's millionaires, outside
royalty, are Chinese. Indians constitute about 10 percent of the population.
The rest are small numbers of Arabs, Indonesians, Filipinos, and Pakistanis.
Although Malaysia's ethnic
mix is generally harmonious, the various communities
remain largely separate, and things have not always been so peaceful.
Malaysia has adopted many
Chinese customs. The entire country celebrates Chinese
New Year, when streets are lined with banners and lion-dancers weave
through excited crowds. Indians
were among the first traders to arrive on Peninsular Malaysia, their numbers
growing in the 1800s. Unlike Malays and Chinese, Indians are clustered
in a handful of areas, notably Penang, Perak, and Selangor, but their
influence on Malaysian culture is profound. Malaysia's
indigenous inhabitants are the Orang Asli, which means "original people".
The Orang Asli belong to many different races and tribes. Among them
are Negritos. The major population
in Sarawak are made up of different races mainly the Ibans,
Chinese, Malay, Bidayuh, Melanau, and other ethnic groups. Sabah
population is made up of Kadazan, Chinese, Dusun, and other ethnic groups.
History
Aboriginal Malays (Orang Asli) began
moving down the Malay peninsula from south-western
China about 10,000 years ago. The peninsula came under the rule
of the Cambodian-based Funan, the Sumatran-based Srivijaya and the Java-based
Majapahit empires, before the Chinese arrived in Melaka in 1405. Islam
arrived in Melaka at about the same time and spread rapidly. Melaka's wealth
soon attracted European powers, and the Portuguese took control in 1511,
followed by the Dutch in 1641. The British established a thriving port in Penang
in 1786 and took over Melaka in 1795. The
British colonised the interior of the peninsula when tin was discovered. East
Malaysia came into British hands via the adventurer James Brooke (who was
made Rajah of Sarawak in 1841 after suppressing a revolt against the Sultan
of Brunei) and the North Borneo Company (which administered Sabah from
1882). Britain took formal control of both Sabah and Sarawak after WW II.
The indigenous labour supply was insufficient for the needs of the developing
rubber and tin industries, so the British brought large numbers of Indians
into the country, altering the peninsula's racial mix. The
Japanese overran Malaya in World War II. Communist guerrillas, who fought
the Japanese throughout the occupation, began an armed struggle against
British rule in 1948 and Malaya achieved independence in 1957. Sabah,
Sarawak and Singapore combined with Malaya to establish Malaysia in
1963, but two years later Singapore withdrew from the confederation. The formation
of Malaysia was opposed by both the Philippines and Indonesia, each
having territorial claims on East Malaysia. Tension rose in 1963 during the
`Confrontation' with Indonesia. Indonesian troops crossed Malaysia's borders
but were repelled by Malaysian and Commonwealth forces. The United
Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has been in power since 1974. Prime
Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is keen to exert his influence on the
world stage as a pan-Asian leader, presided over a booming economy until
1997, when tumbling Asian currencies dragged the ringgit down with them.
In September 1998, the country also hosted the Commonwealth Games.
Culture
Malays, Chinese and Indians live
together in harmony in this multicultural Malaysian
society. The Malays, being the largest community, are Muslims, speak
'Bahasa Melayu' and are also largely responsible for the country's political
ndertakings. The Chinese, comprising
about a third of the population, are Buddhists and Taoists,
speak Hokkein, Hakka and Cantonese, and are more dominant in the
business community. The Indians,
accounting for about 10% of the population, are mainly Hindu Tamils
from Southern India, speak Tamil, Malayalam, and some Hindi, and live
mainly in the larger towns on the West Coast of the peninsula. There
is also a sizeable Sikh community in Malaysia. Eurasians and native tribes
make up the remaining portion of the population. The
main native tribe is the Iban of Sarawak. They largely live in longhouses along
the Rejang and Baram rivers. The Bidayuh (107,000) concentrate on Sarawak's
Skrang River. The indigenous Orang Asli (80,000) live in small scattered
groups in Peninsular Malaysia. Traditionally nomadic agriculturalists,
many of these native bloods have been absorbed into modern Malaysian
societies. Chinese and Islamic
forms influence Malaysian music heavily. The music is based
largely around the gendang (drum), but includes percussion instruments,
flutes, trumpets, and gongs. The country has a profound tradition
of dances and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian, and Portuguese origin.
Other artistic traditional forms include wayang kulit (shadow-puppets), silat
(traditional martial art), and craftsmanship such as batik, weaving and silver-
and brass-work.
Language
Bahasa Malaysia is the official
language, but when members of these communities
talk to each other, they normally use English - the official international
language. English has been the medium of instruction in tertiary education
for many years. But now, Bahasa Malaysia has been reinstated in many
learning institutions to be the official language of instruction.
Administration
Malaysia has a complex federal political
system, with extensive local power still
in the hands of nine hereditary sultans, who elect the head of state (entitled
HM the Yang di-Pertuan Agong) every five years from among their number.
There are 13 states plus two 'Federal Territories' (Kuala Lumpur and the
island of Labuan). Legislative power in the hands of the bicameral parliament
comprising the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives), with 192
members directly elected for a five year term, and the 70-strong Dewan Negara,
or Senate, of whom 40 members are appointed by the Head of State and
30 members elected by the country's 13 regional assemblies. Executive power
is held by the Prime Minister, who is formally appointed by the head of state
but in practice the leader of the largest party in the Dewan Rakyat. The Prime
Minister governs with the assistance of an appointed ministerial cabinet.
How to get to Malaysia by Air?
There are thirty-seven airlines
serving Malaysia from all over the world. Malaysia
has her own national carrier, Malaysia Airline System (MAS), which operates
the largest fleet of aircraft in South East Asia. It has flights from over 50
destinations worldwide. The new Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was
officially launched in 1998 and is located in Sepang, Selangor. The
taxi fare to Kuala Lumpur is RM60.00 for a limousine. There is also a cheaper
alternative if you are travelling on a small luggage, you can take the bus
from the airport and than use the Nilai Railway to commute to Kuala
Lumpur. The total fare for this is below RM20.00.
How to get to Malaysia by Rail?
Peninsular Malaysia is served by
two railway lines connecting the country to Singapore
in the South and Thailand in the North. The trains are run by Keretapi
Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM), offering an inexpensive and comfortable way
of travelling into Malaysia and seeing the countryside. Besides
this, those wanting to travel in style can opt for the Eastern and Oriental
Express train service, which was launched in September 1993 and operates
between Bangkok and Singapore. The Express offers luxury accommodation
and fine cuisine on wheels. The
train departs from Bangkok every Wednesday and the cost for a standard ticket
to Kuala Lumpur is RM2,340.00 and RM1,020.00 from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.
Banking
There are about 40 commercial banks,
both local and foreign, in Kuala Lumpur.
Most banks have good facilities for foreign exchange and readily furnish
exchange rates for foreign currencies.
Banking hours: Monday to Friday - 10.00am to 4.00 pm, Saturday - 9.30am to 11.30am
Currency
The Malaysian Ringgit’s (RM) standard
unit is worth 100 sen (cents). Currency
notes are in denominations of RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50,and
RM100, while the denomination of RM500 and RM1000 will no longer
be valid as of July 1st 1999. Coins are in denominations of 1 sen, 10 sen,
20 sen, 50sen and RM1.
Money changing
Foreign currency and traveller's
cheques may be changed in all commercial banks
during normal banking hours. Licensed
money changers at the airport and within the city sometimes offer better
rates. Traveller's cheques are also accepted by hotels and major department
stores but banks give the best rates.
Car Rental Services
There are many agencies which provide
car rental services to those who prefer
to have the convenience of driving oneself, provided that the driver has a valid
international driver's license. Most of the car rental agencies are stationed
at the airport, hotels, shopping and office complexes. Arm yourself with
a Kuala Lumpur road map, fasten your seat belt (compulsory for front passengers)
and you are on your way to exploring the many wonders of the country!
Airport Taxis
The coupon system applies for transfers
from the airport to destinations within
the city or its suburbs. Vouchers at fixed prices (depending on destinations)
may be purchased at the Taxi counter at the airport concourse. These
are to be given to the taxi driver at the start of the journey.
Tipping
Tipping is not a way of life in Malaysia. It is not necessary to do so as hotels and
restaurants would have already added an extra 10% service charge, unless
the service rendered is exceptionally good.
Postal Services
Post offices within the city offer stamps, aerogrammes and postcards for sale
and will attend to all your postal requirements. Office hours are normal working
hours on weekdays and on Saturdays, the hours are from 8 am to 12 noon.
Telephones
Local calls can be made from public phones, whether coin- or card-operated.International
calls can be made from phone booths with card-phone facilities or at any Telecoms offices. Most hotels are equipped with IDD service with a minimal
service charge.
Voltage
Main voltage in Kuala Lumpur is 220 volts. If you are carrying any electrical equipments
using 110 volts, it would be advisable to use an electrical adaptor.
Tap Water
Water for public consumption has
undergone various stages of purification and treatment. Tap water is therefore safe for drinking.
Visa
The government of Malaysia will
reduce passport fees for children under 12 from
RM300 to RM150 and introduce a special passport for students under 21
who are pursuing studies abroad from September 1, 1999. This
decision will lessen the burden of students and parents particularly in the
lower income group. Those who
apply for student passport, should produce an offer letter from their
respective overseas colleges or universities. The letter must be attached with
an endorsement from the Education Ministry. Beginning
this year, the fee for a 32 page international passport will be set at RM300 while a 64-page passport costs RM600.
Shopping & Entertainment
Ampang Point, Jalan Ampang, K.L.
Four-storey shopping complex. Second level carries themed areas such as London Walk and Toy town. Branded luxury goods.
Artiquarium, Jalan Medan Tuanku, K.L
Paintings and antiques.
Bangsar Shopping Arcade, Bangsar, K.L
Clothing, beauty salon, restaurants, sports shops, art gallery and framing,bakery, shoe shops, music shops, home furnishing, and supermarket.
Batik Malaysia
From a canting flows original, unique
designs that delineate Malaysian craftmanship.
The creation of batik motifs demands exciting strokes from a skilled
hand inimitable by automation. This way, the next time you dress for an
occasion, dress assure there will be no two batiks that are really alike.
Head Office, Sales Centre, factory:
No.15, Jalan Cahaya 15, Taman Cahaya,68000 Ampang, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Tel : 03-984 0205 / 03-984 0206
Fax : 03-984 44469
Bukit Bintang Plaza, Jalan Bukit Bintang, K.L
Clothing, music shops, sports shops, restaurants, leather products, audio and
video shops, jewellery shops, hairdressers, banks and shoe shops. Ambience:
Bustling.
Central Market, Kuala Lumpur
Formerly a wet market, this building
was spruced up into a retail art gallery for
budding craftsmen and artists. Modeled on Covent Garden in London, this
distinctive pink and pale blue building contains over two hundred shops, stalls
and restaurants. A unique place to venture and perhaps pick up Malaysian
arts and crafts, curios and antiques for a bargain. A must see for any
tourist coming to Kuala Lumpur, the Capital of Malaysia.
Central Square
Next to the Central Market is the
Central Square which houses a cineplex, antique
and souvenir shops, fast food outlets and restaurants. The complex is an
extension of the development concept embodying the Central Market project
and involved the rehabilitation of a row of old pre-war shophouses.
City Square, Jalan Ampang, K.L
Clothing, restaurants, travel agents, music shops, household appliances, leather
goods, audio visual equipment, jewellery shops, sports shops, telecommunication
equipment and beauty salons. Anchor tenants: Metro Jaya and Toys 'R' Us.