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Malaysia
Brief Fact File| Capital | Kuala Lumpur |
| Currency | Ringgit (MYR) |
| Language(s) | Bahasa Melayu
(official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien,
Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai Note: in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban and Kadazan |
| Local time | GMT + 08:00 |
| Telephone code | 60 |
| Major cities | Ipoh, Penang |
Economy
Malaysia emerged as multi-sector economy in 1990s from a producer of raw materials in 1970s. Growth was driven by exports of electronics. It was hard hit by the economic downturn of the world and the slump in the IT sector in 2001 & 2002. Healthy foreign exchange reserves, lower inflation, and minimum external debt are the strengths of Malaysia. The economy continuously depend on the growth in the US, China, and Japan. These are the top export destinations of the country and are the key sources of foreign investment. Major trade partners are United States, Singapore and Japan.
Major Exports:
- Electronic Equipment
- Crude materials, inedible
- Tropical Wood And Wood Products
- Palm Oil, Cocoa and Rubber
- Textiles
- Chemicals
- Food, beverages and tobacco
- Mineral fuels and lubricants
- Animal and vegetable oils and fats
- Machinery and transport equipment
- Electronics
- Machinery
- Crude materials, inedible
- Mineral fuels and lubricants
- Plastics
- Vehicles
- Iron And Steel Products
- Chemicals
- Food, beverages and tobacco
- Animal and vegetable oils and fats
- Machinery and transport equipment
Business Dress
- Suits are perfect for formal meetings. A business shirt and tie
or blouse and skirt are suitable for plant visits/ exhibition
centres.
- Long-sleeved batik shirts can be worn by men when attending dinner parties, but the formal dinners require a lounge suit or evening gown.
Malay are perfectly acceptable to ask personal questions about their income, marital status, weight, and related topics. They may also ask such type of questions. If you do not wish to answer such personal inquiries, just side-step these questions very graciously. Never express annoyance, outrage, or similar feelings.
Welcome Topics of Conversation are:
- Malaysian host's family and heritage
- Business Sports, especially soccer
- Art
- Travel
- Plans for the future
- Success of the group or organization
- Praising the local cuisine
- Criticizing any aspect of Malaysian culture
- Politics
- Bureaucracy
- Ethnic relations in Malaysia and in general
- Religion
- Sex/roles of the sexes
Banks are open from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9.30 am to 11.30 an on Saturdays.
Indian Embassy / Counsulate
Embassy of India
High Commission of India
No.2, Jalan Taman Duta
off Jalan Dutal
50480 Kuala Lumpur
P.O. Box No. 10059
G.P.O. 50704
Malaysia
Tel.: +(603)-2533054/09
Fax: +(603)-2533507
E-mail: information@po.jaring.my
Visiting this Country
Business Visa Rules for Malaysia
Unless by terms of a treaty between Malaysia and the foreign national's home country, Business Visitors are required to get a Business Visa (Business Visit Pass). The Business Visa application should be submitted at the Malaysian Consulate with jurisdiction over the applicant's current place of residence.
Allowable Activities as a Business Visitor
The allowable activities of business visitors are limited to the following:
- To attend any business meetings or discussions
- To attend sales calls to potential client in the country provided
that the employee represents a commercial entity outside of Malaysia
- To attend any seminars or "fact-finding" meetings.
There is no specific visa category for short-term, technical activities; hence, it is best to confirm if a work permit is required for short-term, technical activities prior to departure to Malaysia.
Maximum Period of Stay as a Business Visitor
The Business Visa validity period always dependent upon the applicant's nationality.
The normal validity of most Business Visas is from 30 to 90 days.
A Business Visitor Visa can be extended in Malaysia. The extension may be obtained from the Immigration authorities in Malaysia, prior to the expiration of the initial visa. An extension is discretionary and valid business reasons should be shown in order to extend the stay.
Basic Requirements to Apply for a Business Visa
The following requirements for a Business Visitors Visa are subject to change or modification:
- The applicant must have a residence and an employer outside of
Malaysia and must be traveling to Malaysia for a defined, limited
pre-set period, not to exceed the authorized period;
- The applicant must not receive compensation from sources within
Malaysia;
- The applicant must have evidence of adequate funds to defray
expenses while on the business visit;
- The applicant must have specific, realistic and pre-determined
plans for his/her stay in Malaysia;
- The period of his/her stay must be consistent with the intended purpose of the trip.
| Festival | Date |
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Chinese New Year | Late January to early February |
| Labour Day or Workers' Day | May 1 |
| Wesak Day | Mostly May |
| King's Birthday | First Saturday of June |
| National Day | August 31 |
| Deepavali | Late October to early November |
| Christmas | 25 December |
Travel Tips
- Tipping is not a way of life in Malaysia. A service charge of 10%
and government tax of 5% are usually added in bills. Taxi drivers
are not tipped.
- Electricity supply is on 240-volt 50-cycle system.
- Malaysia's climate is sunny year round so pack light clothing.
Ladies are advised to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long
skirts when entering mosques and temples.
- Departure tax is RM45.
- Visitors staying for a minimum of 72 hours are permitted personal
duty free allowance of 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225 gm
tobacco. He/she can carry 1 bottle of liquor or wine, cosmetics,
perfumes, cloths, etc. Gifts and souvenirs should not worth more
than RM200.00.
- A non resident is permitted only ringgit notes of RM1,000.00 or
less per person into and out of Malaysia.
- There is no such limit of carrying foreign currency notes and travellers cheques carried into Malaysia. However, a non resident cannot carry out of Malaysia, foreign currency notes (including traveler's cheques) exceeding the amount brought in.
