|
Penang
International Airport arrival information
KLIA
(Kuala Lumpur International Airport) arrival information (on
transit to Penang)
WELCOME TO MALAYSIA
Malaysia has a population of over 25 million people who reside in the Peninsula
and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo
island. The country prides itself with the harmonious existence
of various races as a nation: Malays, Chinese, Indians, lbans,
Kadazandusuns, and other ethnic. The national language is Bahasa
Malaysia, but English is widely
spoken. The official religion of Malaysia is Islam, but the nation
comprises Moslems, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and followers
of other religions. The various ethnic groups, cultures and languages
make Malaysia,
Truly Asia.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A valid passport (and
visa if applicable) is required for all persons entering Malaysia. Note: A passport is
also necessary for travel between Peninsular Malaysia and the
East Malaysian (states of Sabah and Sarawak in the Borneo
Island), as well as between
Sabah and Sarawak.
IMMIGRATION
All visitors are required
to complete an Arrival / Departure Card, a Customs Declaration
(and if required, a Travellers Declaration Form (TDF) and Quarantine
Form). These are given out on all inbound Malaysia Airlines' flights.
VISAS
- Visas are not needed for nationals of Commonwealth
countries except for Bangladesh,
India, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka and Nigeria.
- Nationals from Switzerland,
Netherlands,
San Marino and Liechtenstein do not require
visas.
- Visas are not required for stay not exceeding three months for
nationals of Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain,
Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Cuba, Bosnia Herzegovina, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon,
Luxembourg, Morocco, North Yemen, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland,
Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, South
Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, L.I.A.E.,
Uruguay and Yemen.
- Visas are not required for U.S.A.
citizens visiting Malaysia
for social, business or academic purposes (except for local
employment).
- Visas are not required for a stay of less than one month for nationals
of all ASEAN countries, except Myanmar. For a stay exceeding
one month, a visa will be required, except for nationals of
Brunei and Singapore.
- Visas are not required for a stay not exceeding one month for
nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Astonia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,
Hong Kong SAR, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Lithuania,
Latvia, Macau SAR, Macedonia, Malclova, Mexico, Moldivia, Monaco,
Mongolia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal,
Russia, Sudan, Surinam, Togo, Tadjikistan, Timur Leste, Ukraine,
Upper Volta, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Zaire
and other countries.
- Visas are not required for a stay not exceeding 14 days for nationals
of Iran (15 days), Iraq, Libya, Syria, Macau (travel permit),
Portugal Alien Passport, Palestine, Sierra Lyon, Somali, Somalia
and South Yemen.
- Nationals of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Angola, Burkina
Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Republic,
Congo Democratic Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea‑Bissau, Ghana, Liberia,
Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Western Sahara, Taiwan,
Myanmar, Nepal, Colombia, Bhutan, People's Republic of China,
all holders of Certificate of Identity (CI), Laisser Passer
and Titre De Voyage, and Afghanistan (visa with reference) must
obtain a visa before entering Malaysia.
- Nationals of Israel,
Yugoslavia
(Serbia & Montenegro)
must obtain a visa before entering Malaysia. Nationals of Israel must obtain permission from the
Ministry of Internal Security before the visa can be issued,
while nationals of Yugoslavia
(Serbia &
Montenegro)
must obtain permission the Ministry of Home Affairs before a
visa can be issued.
- Nationals of countries other than those stated above are allowed
to enter Malaysia
without a visa for a visit not exceeding one month.
- Regulations are subject to change.
For further information,
please contact: Immigration Department
Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia,
Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri), Floor 1‑7 (Podium),
Block 2G4, Precinct 2, Federal Government Administration Centre,
62550 Putrajaya. Contact no: +603‑8880 1555 / 8880 1556
E‑mail: visapass@imi.gov.
HEALTH REGULATIONS
Cholera vaccination
is NOT required for travellers entering Malaysia. Visitors arriving from
Yellow Fever Endemic Zones and other affected areas are required
to present International Health Certificates showing Yellow Fever
vaccination.
This regulation, however,
does not apply to children below the age of one.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Hot and humid all year
round, Malaysia
enjoys an equatorial climate of temperatures ranging from 22 to
32 degrees Celsius in the lowlands. However, it is cooler in highland
areas. The annual rainfall here averages 200250 cm. Dressing in
clothing of breathable and light material is advised. Comfortable
and warm garments need be worn only at hill resorts.
MONEY MATTERS
Money exchange facilities
are available in all major towns. The Malaysian Ringgit (RM) comes
in denominations of RM1, RM5, RM10, RM50 and RM100, and coins
from one sen (cents), 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen and RM1. All
major credit cards are accepted in most establishments.
All commercial banks are
authorised foreign exchange dealers and open from 9.30am to 4pm
on weekdays, and 9.30am to 12 noon on Saturdays. They are closed
on Sundays, the first and third Saturdays of the month, and public
holidays.
However, the banks in
Kelantan and Terengganu close on Fridays. They are open from 9.30am
to noon from Saturdays to Thursdays, except on the first and third
Thursdays of the month. Other licensed moneychangers operate in
key entry / exit points and shopping malls. Most hotels exchange
foreign currency and accept travellers' cheques.
MOVING ABOUT
Most international airlines
serve Kuala Lumpur and also Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Local transport
is efficient and cheap, and this includes air‑conditioned
express buses and long distance taxi services. Peninsular Malaysia has road and rail links to Singapore and Thailand. Many car rental companies
have counters at airports, some shopping complexes in the city
and major towns in the country. Driving on the left side of the
road is observed throughout the country.
COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone, facsimile, telegraph, telex,
postal and e‑mail facilities are available for local and
international communications. Cybercaf6s with Internet services
can be easily found in urban centres.
TIME DIFFERENCE
The standard Malaysian time is eight (8) hours
ahead of GMT.
|
|
AIRPORT
ARRIVAL INFORMATION
ARRIVAL AT PENANG
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
If your first arrival
port is the Penang International Airport (USUALLY via Bangkok
or Singapore
or Hong Kong), after disembarking, please follow the International
Arrival sign to the immigration checkpoint to get your passport
endorsed. After that proceed downstairs to claim your luggage.
If you arrive from KLIA
where you have already had your passport endorsed, please follow
the Domestic Arrival sign and proceed downstairs to claim your
luggage.
During this period you
may wish to purchase duty free items before going out of the terminal
building. (NOTE: Malaysia
taxes heavily on liquor and cigarette items. Beer and liquor drinks
are thus relatively more expensive outside).
Upon getting past the
luggage checkpoint you will enter the public gallery of the arrival
area. Proceed to the taxi sales counter (on your right side) to
purchase your taxi coupon. The price for a one-way taxi ride to
your destination in Georgetown,
Penang is fixed. The
taxi fare to the conference hotel is RM38.00. REMEMBER,
the Conference hotel is Hotel
Bayview George
Town,
Penang. (Please make sure that
the taxi driver does not mix it up with the Bayview
Beach Hotel, which is situated at another side of Penang).
Each taxi can seat 4 persons. The journey to George
Town, Penang takes
about 20 - 30 minutes. (Note: there may be surcharges for taxi travel
after midnight.)
You may also wish to
contact the hotel which you have booked in advanced to have you
picked up at the airport. Most hotels provide such a service.
Check with the hotel whether you need to pay for this service
or not.
Except for the invited
guests/keynote speakers, the Organizing Committee will not be
picking the participants from the airport. However, please e-mail
us your flight schedule so that we may assist by letting the Secretariat
collate the arriving times of participants. If there are sufficient
people arriving around the same time, the Secretariat may either
arrange for a bus to ferry them from the Airport to the hotels,
or coordinate the sharing of taxis. Please contact the secretariat.
NOTE on taxi travel in Penang: The mass transport is somewhat
inefficient in the city. Bus commutes around the city rather irregularly.
The government has just enforced the ruling that taxi must use
meters but few taxis abide by it. So please insist on using meter
where possible. Otherwise do a hard bargain.
The furthest taxi ride around town should not cost more
than RM8. Distances travel within Penang
are usually not large, so do not accept exorbitant charges.
Map of Penang island
Top
ARRIVAL
AT KLIA (Kuala
Lumpur International Airport)
on transit to Penang
Overseas participants travelling by air to Penang generally arrive via
Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), Singapore,
Bangkok or Hong
Kong.
Those travelling via KLIA usually disembark at Terminal C (Satellite
wing of KLIA). Passenger should follow the international arrival
sign and proceed to board an Aero train, which will bring them
to the main terminal building in 5 minutes' time.
After disembarking from the Aero train,
do not go straight to the immigration check point on the
same floor if you are not disembarking in Kuala Lumpur
(NOTE: if your luggage ends at KLIA, you must disembark here).
INSTEAD, follow the transit sign which will bring you down
via escalator to another immigration check point (the transit
area) one floor below. Get your passport endorsed here. After
that, proceed to get your carry-on luggage checked and then go
straight to the Transit Counters. Check the computer screen for
the latest flight information about boarding gates. You will board
your plane to Penang via the
local flight terminal gates either at the B Terminals (which means
you must turn right) or A Terminals (which
means you must turn left). Please check with the Transit counter
if you are not sure.
|
