Preparing Your Travel
About Malaysia
Malaysia is located in the heart of South East Asia. Malaysia has a multicultural and multiracial population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and numerous indigenous peoples. Although Malay is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in business and education lines. With such a varying ethnic composition, it is no surprise that a great diversity of religions is prevalent throughout Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. It is situated midway along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is approximately 35km from the coast and sits at the centre of the Peninsula's Extensive and modern transportation network. Kuala Lumpur is easily the largest city in the nation, possessing a population of over one and a half million people drawn from all of Malaysia's many ethnic groups.
The People
Malaysia is truly multicultural and one of its greatest resources is its rich cultural diversity. Malays number around half of the total population of over 24 million, while the other half comprises Chinese, Indians,Ibans, Kadazans and other ethic groups
Languages
Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the national and official language of the country. English is widely used all over the country. Other languages are Mandarin and Tamil.
Religion
The official religion of Malaysia is Islam. However, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity are widely practised by the various races.
Weather Condition
Hot and humid all year around, Malaysia enjoys an equatorial climate of temperatures ranging from 21c (70f) to 32c (90f) in the lowlands.
Money Matters
Money exchange facilities are available in all major towns. The Malaysian Ringgit (RM) comes in denominations of RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10, RM50 and RM100, and coins from one sen (cents), 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen. All major credit cards are accepted in most establishments.
All commercial banks are authorised foreign exchange dealers and open from 9:30am to 4:00pm, Mondays to Fridays. Selected banks are open 9:30am to 12:00 noon on Saturday. Banks are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Time Difference
The standard Malaysian time is eight (8) hours ahead GMT.
Food
Eating out in Malaysia is a real gastronomic adventure. There are Malay restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Indian restaurants, Thai restaurants, Vietnamese restaurants, Western Cuisines, and many more. You can find a seemingly endless variety food operate in towns, towns, hawkers centres, food bazaars and etc.Popular Malaysian dishes include Satay, Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, and etc.
Electrical Supply
Electricity in Malaysia is 240 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Malaysia with a device that does not accept 240 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.
Press
The English language dailiesprinted in peninsular Malaysiaare the
The Edge,
New Straits Times, <= a href=3D"http://www.thestar.com.my/" target=3D"_blank">The Star,
The Sun and etc= . There are alsoseveral English-language Sunday newspapers and periodica= ls. Internationalnewspapers can be obtained at most bookshops and newsst=
ands. Several dailies inother languages include Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, China Press=
, Guang Ming =
Daily, Kwo=
ng Wah Yit Poh, Oriental Daily and Tamil Nesan.
Transportation
Car Rental Contact Numbers:
| ASIAN Rent A Car | +603 2080 5066 / +603 8787 6688 |
| Dynadrive Rent A Car | +603 56381818 / +603 87871988 |
| Hawk Rent A Car | +603 2164 6455 / +603 8787 1455 / + 603 8776 3498 |
| Sintat Tent A Car | +603 21486433 / +603 87768448 |
| Sime Darby Rent A Car | +603 87874572 |
| Orix Car Rental | +603 92847799 / +603 8787 4151/ +603 8787 4294 |
There is also an intra city bus feeder network for the LRT that provides services to the surrounding residential and commercial areas. A copy of the LRT routes map can be obtained at any of the LRT stations around the town. Daily operating hours are 6.00 am - 12.00 pm.
By Bus
There are several bus companies which operate intercity, stage and expre=
ss bus services to various destinations in Malaysia. If you wish to take=
a bus to the IMU, you would need to take a bus to Sri Petaling at the K=
ota Raya Shopping Complex/Menara Maybank bus stop. Once you reached Sri =
Petaling, you would need to hail a taxi from Sri Petaling to the IMU.
By Taxi
Taxis are also an integral part of the public transport system in Kuala Lumpur. All taxis in Kuala Lumpur are fitted with a meter and the fare is always paid according to the reading on the meter. A taxi can be hailed from any bus stop or any designated taxi stand. The minimum fare for all taxis in Kuala Lumpur is about RM2.00 for the first km and RM0.10 forevery 150 metres thereon. There is an additional charge of RM1.00 if you call a taxi by phone. A surcharge of 50% is levied between midnight and 6:00 am.
Taxi Contact Numbers:
| Comfort | +603 8024 2727 |
| City Line Cab | +603 9222 2828 / 7878 |
| Public Cab | +603 6259 2020 |
| Saujana | +603 2162 8888 |
| Super Cab | +603 7875 7333 |
| Sunlight | +603 9057 5757 |
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is one of the most modern and sophisticated airports in the Asia Pacific region. A spectacular feat of architecture and construction, KLIA combines futuristic technology with Malaysian culture and the rich, tropical splendour of its natural resources.
Located within the Multimedia Super Corridor and close to the country's administrative capital, Putrajaya, the airport is approximately 75 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur's city centre. It is accessible via the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway/KLIA interchange as well as the Shah Alam/North-South Central Link Expressway.
Transportation from KLIA
KLIA Express station to the city is at Level 1 (Ground Floor) of KLIA Main Terminal Building. Ticket counter and vending machines for these services are located at the Arrival Hall.
Airport Limousine service and Budget Taxi service use a coupon system. Taxi counters are available upon exit from the Arrival Hall.
Public bus services are also available one floor down from the Arrival Hall. Private vehicle car parks are connected by the skybridge on the Station Mezzanine Level.
Contact Numbers:
| KLIA Limousine Service | +603 9223 8080 (0800 hrs - 0000 hrs only)
+603 8787 3030 (0000 hrs - 0800 hrs only) |
| KLIA Express Link | +603 2267 8000 |
Living Expenses
Living expenses are depending on students' financial resources, tastes and interests. Students are advised to set out a budget according to their individual needs. Rented accommodation in Malaysia generally ranges in price from RM300 for a basic room to RM2,000 for a fully furnished air-conditioned apartment/house. These depend on the location and standard of facilities provided. A sample minimum monthly budget is provided below.
Minimum Monthly Expenses in Malaysian Ringgit (RM)
| Service/Commodity | Malaysian Ringgit (RM) per month |
| Accommodation | 300.00 to 500.00 |
| Food (3 basic meals) | 350.00 to 600.00 |
| Entertainment | 150.00 to 250.00 |
| Public Transport | 150.00 to 200.00 |
| Other Misc Cost (Personal Items, Toiletries, Stationery, etc) | 300.00 to 500.00 |
| Estimated Monthly Expanses | 1,250.00 to 2,050.00 |
