Malaysia
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Capital
Kuala Lumpur
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Local time
3:08
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Population
32.27 m
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Driving side
Left
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Calling code
+60
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Currency
RM MYR (ringgit)
Malaysia
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Capital
Kuala Lumpur
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Local time
3:08
-
Population
32.27 m
-
Driving side
Left
-
Calling code
+60
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Currency
RM MYR (ringgit)
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Average Salary
$ 913
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Petrol price
€ 0.68 pl
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Precipitation
2 875mm /year
Geography & travel
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Country Area
329 750 km2
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Protected Area
18%
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Forest Area
68%
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Agricultural area
23%
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Railways
2250km
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Annual air passengers
53.82 m
Population
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Ethnicity
Malay
Chinese - 23 %
indigenous - 11 %
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Religion
Muslim
Muslim
Buddhist
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Literacy rates
93.1%
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Languages
Bahasa Malaysia
English
Chinese - Cantonese
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Armed Forces
133 600
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Alcohol consumption
1.7 l/person
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Smoking
43%
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Diabetes
17.9%
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Malaria
2%
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Tuberculosis
89 per 100k
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HIV
0.4%
Economy
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Industries
rubber and palm oil, petroleum and natural gas, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics and semi-conductors, timber processing, Sabah - logging, petroleum and gas
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Agriculture
palm oil, rubber, cocoa, rice, palm oil, subsistence crops, rubber, timber, palm oil
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Natural Resources
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
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Energy Import
-5%
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Natural Resources
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
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Renewable Energy
4%
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CO2 Emissions
242 821kt
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Ease of Business
24 (Best=1, Worst=200)
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ATMs per 100k people
51
What not to do when visiting Malaysia
Malaysia Don't be offended if your offer of a handshake is not reciprocated by a Muslim of opposite sex. In Islam, physical contact between the opposite sex is discouraged.
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Malaysia Don't kiss in public. Public behaviour is important in Malaysian culture and most Malaysians refrain from displaying affection such as embracing or kissing in public.
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Malaysia Don't forget to enter the shrine with your left foot first, and exit by leading with your right foot. This gesture symbolically represents a whole.
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Did you know?
Malaysia is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Towers. The second tallest were the twin towers in NYC before their destruction.
Malaysia Don’t point only with your finger - people beckon one another by extending an arm and making a scratching motion with their fingers. Using the thumb with the rest of your fingers clenched in the fist is acceptable.
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Malaysia Don't touch the head of adult. Touching people on the head is considered rude.
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Malaysia Don't pound your fist into the palm of the other hand - it's obscene gesture to some people.
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Malaysia Don’t mess up the greetings - Chinese make a light handshake, sometimes accompanied with a touch on the arm. Malay men will use the handshake and also the salaam accompanied with a slight bow. Indian men will use the handshake and also the namaste. People often use a two-handed handshake when greeting and departing. Many times a simple nod or slight bow is enough. Wait for the women to initiate with all three ethnicities.
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Malaysia Don't ever touch or hand a monk something if you are a woman. Even accidentally brushing against their robes requires that they fast and perform a cleansing ritual.
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Malaysia Don't enter Malaysian home, temple, mosque or religious buildings without removing your shoes.
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Malaysia Don't use the left hand when eating or handing/receiving things - use right hand. It's considered discourteous in Malay custom to use your left hand when you hand over or receive things.
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Malaysia Don't drink alcohol everywhere - the country's large Muslim population don't drink alcohol.
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Malaysia Don't bath naked. You can wear hot pants and vests at mainland beaches if you are female. Topless swimming is a no-no. Malay women usually go swimming fully dressed and some keep their scarves on.
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Malaysia Don't be embarrassed for burping during the meal. Burping and belching after the meal is not very acceptable though.
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Malaysia Don't get involved in illegal drugs. There is a mandatory death penalty for trafficking.
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Malaysia Don't discuss ethnic relations or the political system - they are both sensitive subjects.
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Malaysia Don’t forget there are three major ethnicities - Chinese, Malay and Indian. Greetings tend to differ between the three.
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Malaysia Don’t expect locals to be direct communicators - they avoid answering ”no" and rather say ”maybe” or ”no problem" even the answer is really no. Sucking the air between the teeth after a question is asked is a definite signal for no.
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Malaysia Don't forget to convert most of your currency in Malaysia. There is restriction of bringing large amounts of ringgit into or out of the country.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Malaysia Don't forget - bowing when passing someone means "excuse me".
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Malaysia Don't forget the cameras, watches, pens, portable radios, perfume, cosmetics and lighters are duty-free in Malaysia. If you are bringing in dutiable goods then a deposit may be required for temporary importation, which would be refundable on departure.
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Malaysia Don't show the soles of your feet or shoes to someone, even when sitting.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't lose the temper and cause "loss of face". The concept of "saving face" is extremely important in East Asian social relationships.
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Malaysia Don’t be surprised by periods of silence in conversations - it’s acceptable and sometimes expected, especially after a question is asked.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't provide your passport as collateral when hiring vehicles - better use cash as deposit.
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Malaysia Don’t distribute religious literature of another faith to Malaysian Muslims - it’s illegal.
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Malaysia Don’t touch different genres when conversing.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't be too affectionate in public - kissing, cuddling and similar behaviour are frowned upon if in public, especially amongst older locals.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't pull the motorbike in the middle of the road when trying to turn right as you might be hit from behind or from the front by others. Most of the traffic accidents are caused by this as it's common vehicles are overtaking within each of the sides in parallel and stopping in the middle can cause you big troubles.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't point at people or things with your feet - it's considered very rude as the feet are considered as the most inferior parts of the human body.
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Malaysia Don’t be a victim of mosquito-borne diseases - protect yourself against bites by mosquitoes.
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Malaysia Don't forget the air quality can occasionally be “unhealthy” due to burning vegetation in nearby countries, especially from March through June and in September/October.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't show disrespect to Buddha or its images - large or small, ruined or not, it's regarded as a sacred object.
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Malaysia Don’t forget the monsoon season takes place between October and February.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't try to outrun the rainstorm on your moped.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
South-Eastern Asia Don't touch a monk. Treat monks with the highest respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of woman.
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