Cultures have been meeting and mixing in Malaysia since the very beginning of its history. Malaysia's cultural mosaic is marked by many different cultures, but several in particular have had especially lasting influence on the country. Chief among these is the ancient Malay culture, and the cultures of Malaysia's two most prominent trading partners throughout history--the Chinese, and the Indians. These three groups are joined by a dizzying array of indigenous tribes, many of which live in the forests and coastal areas of Borneo. Although each of these cultures has vigorously maintained its traditions and community structures, they have also blended together to create contemporary Malaysia's uniquely diverse heritage. 

Malaysians enjoy meeting people from other lands. So, do go right ahead and strike up a conversation. After all, the whole point of traveling is to know other cultures. When greeting a Malaysian, go ahead and shake their hands. However, some Muslim men and women will not shake the hands of the opposite sex due to religious reasons – so do not get offended. If you are really unsure about all the different forms of greetings, just smile and nod your head slightly when introduced.

Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier, currently flies to 95 destinations worldwide. Many other international airlines offer flights to Malaysia, most of which land at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) approximately 35 miles (55km) South of Kuala Lumpur. Air traffic to and from Malaysia is estimated to grow between almost seven per cent a year over the next decade. The new KL International Airport at Sepang has one of the most sophisticated passenger facilities in the region.

Some of the international airlines that fly to Malaysia are Aeroflot, Air France, Air India, Air Lanka, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Vietnam, Alia/Royal Jordanian Airlines, Balkan-Bulgarian Airlines, Bangladesh Biman, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Eva Air, Garuda Indonesia, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Kampuchea Airlines, Koran Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan Airlines, Phillipine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sempati Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai International, and Uzbekistan Airlines.

As Malaysia's climate is sunny almost year round, light clothing is ideal. It is advisable for ladies, when entering mosques and temples, to wear long sleeves and loose pants or long skirts.

Malaysia’s monetary unit is the Ringgit, which is easily exchanged at banks or major hotels for US Dollar, Japanese Yen, Korean Won, and other foreign currencies. The rate of conversion is basically stable but subject to change by market fluctuations

Passport/Travel Documents

Visitors to Malaysia must be in possession of valid passport/travel documents with a minimum validity of six months beyond the period of intended stay. In the case of a national passport not recognised by the Malaysian Government, the holder must be in possession of a document in lieu of passport obtainable at the nearest Malaysian Mission abroad. The national passport must also ensure his re-entry into the country of his citizenship. 

Every visitor to Malaysia has to fill in a Disembarkation Card (IMM. 26). The card has to be handed over to the Immigration Officer on arrival together with the national passport or other internationally recognized travel document endorsed for travel into Malaysia. A passport/travel document is also necessary for travel between Sabah and Sarawak. 

Visitor passes issued for entry into Peninsular Malaysia are not valid for entry into Sarawak. Fresh visit passes must be obtained on arrival at the point of entry in Sarawak. However, subject to conditions stipulated, visit passes issued by the Immigration Authorities in Sabah and Sarawak are valid for any part of Malaysia. 

Visa Requirements

• Commonwealth Citizens (except Bangladesh/India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), British Protected Persons or Citizens of the Republic of Ireland and Citizens of Switzerland, Netherlands, San Marino and Liechtenstein do not need a visa to enter Malaysia. 

• Citizens of Albania, Austria, Algeria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Republic of Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Italy, United States of America, Bahrin, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, North Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia,Qatar United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Tunisia do not require a visa for a Social and Business visit not exceeding three months. 

• Nationals of ASEAN Countries do not require a visa for a Social and Business visit not exceeding one month. 

• Citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, South Yemen do not require visa for a Social and Business visit not exceeding 14 days. 

• Citizens of Bulgaria, Romania and Russia do not require a visa for a Social and Business visit not exceeding one week. 

• Nationals of the Republic of China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cuba, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Nepal, Myanmar, Taiwan, Vietnam and all Certificate of Identity (CI) holders must obtain a visa before entering Malaysia. 

• Citizens of nations other than those stated above (except Serbia Montenegro and Israel) are allowed to enter Malaysia for a Social and Business visit not exceeding one month without having a Visa. 

• A visitor intending to visit any part of Malaysia is required to be in possession of only one visa to travel direct from one part of the nation to another. 

Visas are issued by Malaysian Diplomatic Missions abroad or British Consulates which act for Malaysia in countries where no diplomatic representation of Malaysia is established. All visitors to Malaysia should inquire at the nearest Malaysian Diplomatic Mission for the latest entry procedures and requirements.

ABOUT PENANG

Penang needs little introduction to many visitors to Malaysia, having long been known as one of Southeast Asia's finest destinations. Penang's outstanding beaches and exotic sights have made it one of the most popular destinations in the region.

With a population of one million, Penang is a melting pot of culture. Apart from the three main racial communities of Malaysia - Malay, Chinese and Indian - there are Arabs and Eurasians, the latter being a result of inter-racial marriages. As it is, one is exposed to a variety of cultural experiences which give the island an added touch of color.

For more interesting information about Penang, please visit the following website: http://www.penang.com/

For our Japanese guests, please refer to these two websites for more information in Japanese:

http://www.pubanzen.mofa.go.jp/  & http://www.tourismmalaysia.or.jp/ 

For our Korean guests, please refer to the following website for more information in Korean: http://www.mtpb.co.kr/

For our Chinese guests, please refer to the following website for more information in Mandarin: http://www.tourism.gov.my/mandarin/aboutus.asp