Malaysia, Truly Asia

Hello there. Selamat Datang ke Malaysia. That means 'Welcome to Malaysia' in our national language, Bahasa Malaysia.

Long sandy beaches meeting clear blue waters, wild tropical rain forests, towering ultra modern sky scrappers, a fusion of culture and tradition, a gastronomic paradise- these are just some of the things that await you in Malaysia.

Here are some fast and fun facts about Malaysia:

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People

One of the things you will find most fascinating about Malaysia is its people and culture. Being a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society of 32 million makes Malaysia a true cultural melting pot.

Geography

Malaysia is the 66th largest country in the world, with a land area of over 320,000 square kilometres - roughly the size of Norway or Vietnam or the US state of New Mexico. It is the 45th most populated country in the world, similar to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. There are two distinct parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea. They are the Peninsula Malaysia and East Malaysia in Borneo Island in the east. Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the largest city in Malaysia. This is where MIFF will be held.

Climate

Climate is warm and humid all year around, with little distinction month by month. Temperature can hover between 21°C to 32°C, with humidity as high as 80%. Higher elevations are much colder with temperatures between 15°C (59°F) to 25°C (77°F).

Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm. However, the wettest parts of Malaysia could well be the hill slopes of Sarawak’s inland areas, which receive a mean annual rainfall exceeding 5,000mm.

There are two seasons in Malaysia: the dry season from May to September and the rainy season from November to March.

Currency

The Malaysian Ringgit is the unit of currency that written as RM or MYR. Moneychangers are easily available and most major credit cards are widely accepted in shopping centers, hotels, and other facilities. Visitors will need to complete the Travellers Declaration Form (TDF) under regulations to restrict the movement of foreign currency in and out of Malaysia.

The exchange rate is valued at USD1 = RM4.08 at the time of publishing. Notes are available in RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, and RM100 denominations, while coins are issued in 5, 10, 20 and 50 sen (cents) denominations. View the latest exchange rates at www.xe.com

Time Zone

If you need to adjust your watches before arriving, Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Language

Bahasa Malaysia is the official language, while English is widely spoken. Ethnic dialects such as Chinese languages and Indian languages are also widely spoken.

Religions

Islam is the official religion of the country, but other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity etc are widely practiced.

Electricity

Voltage is 220-240 volts while A/C is at 50 cycles per second, and our power socket is type G (the same socket used in the United Kingdom).

Weights and Measurements

Malaysia uses the metric system for all weights and measurements.

Telecommunications

Local calls can be made from public phones using coins or prepaid cards. International calls can also be made using phone cards or at any Telekom office.

Extensive mobile network with high-speed mobile data coverage is available throughout populated areas of the country. The three largest mobile network providers are Celcom, Maxis and Digi.