Tourist
Info
Accommodations
There is a wide selection of accommodations to cater for every purpose and
every pocket. Guesthouses and hostels suit the budget-conscious traveller.
Five star hotels are generally located in the urban centres and tariffs
are extremely competitive and are generally priced between US$60-80 for
a superior room. Malaysia boasts of many island and mountain resorts where
accommodations to suit various budget travellers are available. Most of
the major international hotel chains are well represented in the capital
city of Kuala Lumpur. There are also local and regional hotel groups that
rank amongst the world's most famous and highly rated hotels. a 10% service
charge and 5% sales tax will be added to the hotel bill.
Airport
K.L. International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang is designed and built to be
an efficient, competitive and world-class hub airport for the Asia-Pacific
Region. The new mega airport, complete with the latest technology and state-of-the-art
facilities, will aim at providing maximum passenger safety, comfort and
convenience. It is unique because it will have within its boundaries all
that is needed for business, entertainment and relaxation. In short, KLIA
will be a destination in itself.
The KLIA, covering 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres - one of the world's largest
constuction site) or 100 sq. km of land, was completed in four and a half
years with round-the-clock construction work (making it the fastest airport
ever built) undertaken by an international workforce of 25,000 people (largest
number of workers for a Malaysian project) at a cost of about US$3.5bn and
commenced full commercial operations on June 28, 1998. The large size of
land designated for the airport allows the airport to expand as needed to
meet present and future air traffic demands.
Located just 50km (30mi) from the busy metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, K.L.
International Airport is easily accessible from places throughout Malaysia
by road and rail links. The new airport is ideally located in the middle
of the Asia Pacific region and is also conveniently situated in the futuristic
Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), an evolving version of California's Silicon
Valley. This region of Malaysia is also the location of Putrajaya, the country's
new administrative capital about 20 minutes away. The intelligent administration
city using state-of-the-art IT facilities will be part of the Multimedia
Super Corridor and linked directly to the new airport. The new airport and
Putrajaya will be further linked electronically and physically to Cyberjaya
which is a multimedia catalyst centre created for global research and development.
Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, the KLIA is a spectacular
feat of construction which combines futuristic technology, Malaysian culture
and the rich, tropical splendor of its natural resources, and is regarded
as one of the most modern and sophisticated airports in the Asia-Pacific
region. It will incorporate forms and systems suggesting advancement and
modernisation while at the same time, support Malaysia's cultural history.
Airport Tax
A departure tax of RM5 is payable for domestic travel and RM40 for Singapore
and for international travel.
City-Airport Transfer
Airbuses which operate daily from 6 am to midnight to the town terminal
(RM15). The journey of 70 km takes about 60 minutes by car and taxi.
Airport limousines are priced at RM 66.70 for budget cars (to KLCC and prices
vary slightly to other parts of the city) and RM91.70 for premier model.
All other taxis are metered and air-conditioned and can accommodate 4 passengers
(RM 50-60 including surcharge for road toll charges). Beginning April 2002,
the Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal (KLCAT) will be operational. KLCAT is
the city terminal located at the fringe of the Central Business District
with KL Sentral as the air-rail hub for high speed rail services connecting
to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Cruising at a speed of
160 km per hour with departure every 15 minutes, the non stop airport transfer
can be completed in 28 minutes.
Transportation
West Malaysia can be entered by road or rail from Singapore or Thailand.
Most major car rental companies operate counters at KLIA, other airports,
KL train terminal and major hotels. Domestic travel is efficient and cheap
and includes air-conditioned express buses, trains and long distance taxi
services. City travel is convenient by buses, Light Rail Transit (for KL)
and taxis. Taxis are available from hotels and taxi stands and may be hailed
on the street if there is no taxi-stands nearby and no disruption to traffic.
Flag fare is RM2.00 for the first 1 km and 20 sen for each 100 meters. .
Other additional charges are actual road toll charges, RM2.00 for phone
bookings, 50% additional charge for trips between midnight and 6 am and
50 sen for each piece of luggage carried.
Passport/Visa Requirements
To enter Malaysia, participants must hold passports that are valid for at
least 6 months. Visas are not generally required for social visits of fewer
than 14 days, and visitors arriving as tourists are given a 14-day social
visit pass on arrival. No visa is required for a stay not exceeding 7 days
for nationals of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Byelorussia, Estonia
and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). If a longer stay is required,
you may apply to the Immigration Department after your arrival. Travellers
holding travel documents from the countries stated below are required to
apply for entry visas through the Malaysian embassy/consulate in the home
country. The countries are: Bangladesh, Bhutan, People's Republic of China,
Cuba, India, Mynamar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, Vietnam and Certificate of Identity (CI) holders. In addition, those
holding Hong Kong Documents of Identity, Refugee Travel Documents issued
by Middle-East countries and Palestinian Authority Passports will also require
a Visa. A Social or Tourist Visit Pass does not permit the holder to take
up employment, business or professional work in Malaysia. The Business Visit
Pass allows foreign visitors to enter Malaysia for business negotiations
or visit to affiliated offices. No fee is charged for a Business Visit Pass
issued for a period of up to three months with a nominal fee chargeable
for periods beyond the first three months. Regulations are subject to change
and before commencement of travel, you are advised to check with the relevant
immigration authorities in your home countries.
Attire
Due to the warm weather, business suits are usually reserved for highly
formal situations. For men, the tie and shirt is a safe bet, while skirts
and sometimes even trousers are corporate norms for women. Some of the hotels,
restaurants and clubs have attire restrictions.For non-business occasions,
the lighter your clothing the better. Casual cotton clothes (loose dresses,
skirts, and short-sleeve shirts for women and slacks and shirts for men)
are best for daytime wear, with something more formal for evening. Blue
jeans and T-shirts may be frowned upon at some of the better discos.
Business Hours
Offices operate Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm, as well as on Saturday mornings
9 am to 1 pm. Opening hours of shops vary. In Bukit Bintang Road, they tend
to open at 10 am or 10.30 am and close at 9 pm or 9:30 pm, while shops in
housing estates tend to open at 10 am or 10.30 am and remain open until
10 pm or 10.30 pm. Most are open on Sundays.
Business Practices
Although Malay is the national language and is used extensively
in dealings with government agencies, English is widely used as the business
language in the private sector in Malaysia. Most Malaysians are biligual
or even triligual. Besides Malay, they speak English, Chinese (Mandarin
or major dialects for the Chinese) and Tamil (for the Indians). It is advisable
to address a person by their title and last name. Address someone by their
first name may not be appropriate unless greater familiarity has been established.
If in doubt, it is advisable to err on the side of formality and decorum.
Business cards are very important here. The exchange of cards occurs in
a multitude of situations, even in informal or social ones. After being
introduced, the visiting executive should offer his or her card to each
person present, beginning with the most senior person. When presenting or
receiving business cards, do so with both hands.
Telephone Codes
Country code for Malaysia is 6
to be followed by City/State codes as follows: Alor Star (Kedah)-04, Ipoh
(Perak)-05, Johor Bahru (Johor)-07, Kota Bharu(Kelantan)-09, Kota Kinabalu(Sabah)-088,
Kuala Lumpur-03, KLIA and Subang Terminal 3 (Selangor)-03, Kuala Terengganu
(Terengganu)-09, Kuantan (Pahang)-09, Kuching (Sarawak)-082, Malacca-06,
Penang-04 and Seremban (Negri Sembilan)-06 To connect to an international
call from Malaysia, dial 00 followed by the country code. To send an international
fax, dial 00, followed by the country code. |
