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Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It’s known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers such as the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers.
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Dialing code: +60
Currency: Malaysian ringgit
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Malaysia lies just above the equator, right in the heart of South-East Asia. Peninsular Malaysia, with 11 states, is at the southernmost tip of the Asian Continent, while the states of Sabah and Sarawak are located on the northern and western coasts of the island of Borneo.
Situated near the Equator at longitudes 100 to 119 degrees East. Peninsular Malaysia is in the west at the tip of mainland Southeast Asia, while the states of Sabah and Sarawak are on the island of Borneo, in the east.
| Area | 330,252 square kilometers (Peninsular Malaysia 131,598 sq. km, Sarawak 124,449 sq. km, Sabah 73,711 sq. Km) |
| Number of States | 13 states and the federal territories Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan |
| Capital City | Kuala Lumpur |
| Weather | Tropical (21ºC – 32º C), High Humidity (80%) with wet (October – February) and dry seasons (March – September) |
| Population | 31.19 million (2016) World Bank |
| Religion | Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and others |
| Language | Malay (National language), Cantonese, Hokkien, Tamil and others. English is widely used especially in commerce and industry. |
| Local Time | GMT 12 hours (13 hours during daylight saving) KL (-) Vancouver (+) |
| Weights and Measures | Metric system Electric System 220-240 volts AC, 50 hz-cycle system |
| Water | Tap water is safe to drink. |
| Currency | Ringgit Malaysia [CAD1.00 = RM3.498] (May 2007) |
| Banks | International banks includes Citibank, Bank of America, HSBC, ABN Amro Bank, Bank of China, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, OCBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, United Overseas Bank. |
| Banking hours | Generally between 0930 – 1500 hours (weekdays)Closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. |
| Credit Cards | Visa, Mastercard, American Express accepted in major cities. |
| Business Hours | Government Offices – 0800–1615 hours. Private Sector – 0900-1700 hours. |
| Credit Cards | Visa, Mastercard, American Express accepted in major cities. |
| Business Hours | Government Offices – 0800–1615 hours. Private Sector – 0900-1700 hours. |
| Entry Requirements | Visitors must possess valid international passports or other travel documents recognized by the Government of Malaysia. These documents must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into Malaysia. |
| Visa Requirements | Canadian passport holders do not require visa for stay less than 3 months. Other nationalities, please refer to Travel Requirements. |
| Customs | Personal Duty Free Allowances for visitors staying a minimum of 72 hours: – 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225gm tobacco – wines, spirits/malt liquor not exceeding 1 litre – cosmetic, perfume, clothes for personal use not exceeding RM – crafts and souvenirs to a total value not exceeding RM , except when imported from Labuan and Langkawi where the total value shall not exceed RM500.00 |
| Prohibitions | – Narcotics and dangerous drugs. Trafficking of illegal drugs carries the death penalty – Firearms and ammunitions (unless under special permit) – Dagger and flick-knives – Pornographic materials – All goods from Israel |
