馃晫 Malaysia

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 32% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Online, during the 3 days before arrival, most travellers from abroad are required to fill in a free card, the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Exemptions exist for some travellers, Singapore citizens for example. Short stays are visa-free for Western and ASEAN nationalities, in most cases, though the Immigration Department site should be checked for your passport. The official immigration site is the only one to use, because paid copycat sites are numerous.

Culture - take note

Officially Muslim, the country is also multicultural, a Malay, Chinese and Indian mix. Kelantan, Terengganu and mosques are the places where modest dress counts most; on entering a mosque, arms and legs should be covered, as should a woman's hair. The right hand is the one to use. Take shoes off on entering a home or a place of worship. Discretion is advised when eating in public in Ramadan. Alcohol can be bought, though it is expensive; the death penalty is the punishment for drug trafficking. Regulation covers vapes, and some states ban them.

Emergency

Police and ambulance 999. Fire 994. From a mobile phone 112 also works.

Good to know

Plugs and mains voltage

Malaysia's Energy Commission lists the 13-amp fused plug to British standard BS 1363 as a permitted plug top, alongside a 15-amp round-pin plug and a two-pin round plug allowed only for certain double-insulated equipment. It gives the nominal supply as 230 volts at 50 hertz, and says single-phase equipment may be marked 230 or 240 volts.

Ringgit, cards and cash

The currency is the ringgit, says Canadian advice. Credit cards are not accepted at some major hotels, and cash machines are widely available across the country. Bringing in a large amount of cash or negotiable items requires a special permit, and without one the excess is seized on arrival. Visitors may leave only with the amount declared on their arrival form.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, Sharia law and dress

Canadian advice describes severe drug penalties, including the death penalty, and says customs officers can drug-test visitors on entry. It says some aspects of Sharia law have been introduced and Muslim travellers may be subject to them, and that states such as Kelantan and Terengganu can apply particularly strict rules on alcohol and public decency. UK advice says places of worship may refuse entry without covered shoulders and knees, and that foreign nationals may not join demonstrations. Same-sex sexual acts are illegal under federal law, UK advice says.

Taxis and scams

Taxis in Malaysia

At airports, taxi rides are paid for with a fixed-price coupon bought at a terminal counter, while taxis elsewhere should run a meter, according to UK advice. Many drivers refuse the meter, which is illegal, says Canadian advice; find another taxi or settle a rate before getting in. It suggests booking by phone, at a taxi desk or through a trusted app, and checking that the driver matches the photo on the dashboard. Complaints go to the public land transport regulator.

E-hailing rules in Malaysia

E-hailing operator licences in Malaysia are regulated by the Land Public Transport Agency, APAD. Its help pages define an e-hailing vehicle as one that takes passengers by app only, never from the street or a taxi stand. Every such vehicle needs its own APAD e-hailing vehicle permit, which is separate from the driver's vocational licence. Canadian advice also recommends a trusted smartphone app and checking that the driver matches the photo on the dashboard or seatback.

Card games and spiked drinks

Male travellers, often on their own, have been approached in public places and invited to card games that promise large winnings, Canadian advice reports; some victims lost large sums before they realised it was a scam. The advice is to research any agreement before entering it. Both UK and Canadian advice also warn that strangers may offer spiked drinks or food, leading to robbery or assault, even in reputable bars and restaurants.

Who can help

local government

Tourism Malaysia (Tourism Info Line)

Helps with: Malaysia's national tourism promotion board. Its Tourism Info Line 1300 88 5050 is open on working days from 9.00am to 5.00pm and gives travel information to visitors.

Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Malaysia or planning a trip there.

Phone: 1300 88 5050

Email: [email protected]

Address: 9th Floor, No. 2, Tower 1, Jalan P5/6, Presint 5, 62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA)

Helps with: Malaysia's national agency for disaster management under the Prime Minister's Department. It leads disaster relief and runs public awareness and preparedness programmes.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Malaysia affected by a disaster or seeking official disaster information.

Phone: +603 8870 4800

Email: [email protected]

Address: Aras B1, 6 dan 7, Setia Perkasa 5, Kompleks Setia Perkasa, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62502 Putrajaya

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

ngo

Malaysian Red Crescent Society

Helps with: Malaysia's national Red Crescent society. Contact its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for its humanitarian, first aid and disaster relief services.

Who qualifies: People in Malaysia who need its humanitarian services.

Email: [email protected]

Address: Lot PT54, Lengkok Belfield, off Jalan Wisma Putra, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Malaysia

Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Malaysia it supports refugee resettlement, protection of vulnerable migrants, counter-trafficking and assisted voluntary return.

Who qualifies: Refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants and returnees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +603 9235 5400

Email: [email protected]

Address: 570 Jalan Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Foreign embassies and consulates in Malaysia (eProtocol directory)

Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The foreign ministry's eProtocol directory lists foreign missions in Malaysia with addresses and, for many, emails.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Police and ambulance emergency number 999

Helps with: Reaches the police and the ambulance service in Malaysia. The number comes from UK government travel advice.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.

Phone: 999

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Fire emergency number 994

Helps with: Reaches the fire service in Malaysia. The number comes from UK government travel advice.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.

Phone: 994

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Ambulance number 112 (from a mobile)

Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service in Malaysia when called from a mobile phone only, as given by UK government travel advice.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Malaysia, including visitors, calling from a mobile phone.

Phone: 112

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Kuala Lumpur Kuala LumpurA wide mix of food, Bukit Bintang shopping, Batu Caves and the Petronas Twin Towers are what the country's capital is known for.Photo: Renek78, CC0 Penang (George Town) Penang (George Town)Wall murals, colonial buildings and street food bring fame to George Town, a UNESCO-listed place on this island state.Photo: HundenvonPenang, CC BY-SA 4.0 Langkawi LangkawiBeaches, mangrove boat tours and a cable car above the rainforest are found on this duty-free island group.Photo: Ttt.Osakanman, CC BY-SA 4.0 Malacca MalaccaDutch, Portuguese, Chinese and Malay history shaped this UNESCO heritage city, where the Jonker Street night market and river cruises are on offer.Photo: Atlasmotor, CC BY-SA 4.0 Genting Highlands Genting HighlandsNear Kuala Lumpur, this cool hill resort has a long cable car ride, a casino, an outlet mall and theme parks.Photo: Chongkian, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) Kota Kinabalu (Sabah)This gateway leads to Borneo wildlife such as orangutans, to island marine parks nearby and to Mount Kinabalu.Photo: FILMR Production, CC BY 3.0

City selection based on: Euromonitor Top 100 City Destinations; Department of Statistics Malaysia state visitor surveys; Tourism Malaysia

Festivals and events

sport

MotoGP Malaysia (Sepang)

around Oct-Nov 2026 路 Sepang (Kuala Lumpur)

Sepang hosts the big motor race of Malaysia, whereas Formula 1 has not raced there since 2017. Hotels get full and prices go up, so plan ahead.

Official site

festival

Thaipusam at Batu Caves

around Jan 2027 路 Kuala Lumpur

Among the country's largest yearly happenings, this event pushes prices up and fills hotels, so plan early.

religious

Hari Raya Aidilfitri open houses

10-18 Mar 2027 路 Kuala Lumpur

Open houses are held by families and ministers. Traffic on roads out of KL is extremely heavy (balik kampung).

culture

Rainforest World Music Festival

around Jun-Jul 2027 路 Kuching (Sarawak)

Close to Kuching, the Sarawak Cultural Village is the venue for world music.

culture

George Town Festival

around Jul-Aug 2027 路 George Town (Penang)

Performances, street art and the wider arts scene fill the old town, which has UNESCO status.

culture

Merdeka - National Day (31 August)

31 Aug 2027 路 Kuala Lumpur

A parade and fireworks take place at Dataran Merdeka or Putrajaya.

sport

MotoGP Malaysia (Sepang)

around Oct-Nov 2027 路 Sepang (Kuala Lumpur)

Sepang hosts the big motor race of Malaysia, whereas Formula 1 has not raced there since 2017. Hotels get full and prices go up, so plan ahead.

Official site