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Overview
Malaysia is one of the rising stars of South-East Asian tourism, a nation looking to the future while cherishing the ways of the past. Centuries of trade have resulted in a vibrant mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous tribal cultures, creating a veritable melting pot of peoples, traditions and religions that makes it a deeply intriguing place to visit.
Tropical island resorts and endless white, sandy beaches offer a taste of paradise, while beneath warm coral seas, world-class dive sites await exploration. Orang-utans, the oldest rainforest in the world, city skyscrapers and majestic mosques and temples plus a gorgeous coastline are enough to tempt even the most jaded visitor.
General Information
Area
329,758 sq km (127,320 sq miles).
Population
26 million (2006 estimate).
Population Density
78.8 per sq km.
Capital
Kuala Lumpur. Population: 1.5 million (2006 estimate).
Language
Bahasa Melayu is the national and official language, but English is widely spoken. Other languages such as Chinese (Cantonese and Hokkien), Iban and Tamil are spoken by minorities.
Religion
Malaysia’s official religion is Islam. The country also has a large Buddhist community. Other religions, including Christian, Taoist, Confucianist, Hindu and animist, are also practised.
Time
GMT + 8.
Passport/Visa's
Passports
A valid passport or other travel documents recognised by the Malaysian
government are required by all nationals referred to in the chart
above. The former must have enough pages for the embarkation stamp upon
arrival and be valid for at least six months at date of entry. The
latter should be endorsed with a valid re-entry permit.
Visas
Not required by nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months; ( 1) nationals of Bulgaria may stay visa-free for up to one month.
Money
Currency
Ringgit (MYR; symbol RM) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of RM100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of
50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen. The Ringgit is often referred to as the Malaysian Dollar.
Currency Exchance
The best currency for exchange is the Pound Sterling, but US Dollars
are also widely accepted. All commercial banks are authorised foreign
exchange dealers; major hotels are only licensed to buy or accept
foreign currency in the form of notes and traveller’s cheques. It may
be difficult to exchange foreign currencies outside the main tourist
centres.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
Traveller's Cheques
Accepted by all banks, hotels and large department stores. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised
to take traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling, US Dollars or Australian Dollars.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0915-1630 (some branches open on Saturdays). Banks in Kelantan and Terengganu open Sun-Thurs 0915-1600/1630.
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