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| Climate Tropical climate with warm weather. Temperatures range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). Annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm to 2,500mm and the rainy season is from November to March. Medical Services There is a hospital as well as various private clinics in and around Penang. Language Bahasa Malaysia is the official language but English is widely spoken and understood. Time Malaysia is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time. Driving Visitors will need an international driving licence. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road and it is advisable to observe the speed limits, which are generally 50km/h in the city or residential areas and 80km/h or 110km/h on the highway and expressway. Police and the Law The police station headquarters is located in George Town Central. There are police stations in all the districts. Religion The official religion of Malaysia is Islam but there is freedom of worship. Telephone There are good telephone communications throughout the island with phone booths operated by different companies, which either accept coins or phone cards. Almost all hotels have phone facilities and some have International Direct Dialling (IDD) phones in the rooms. International calls can be direct-dialled from private phones, some public phone booths using a phone card and Telekom offices. The access code for making international calls from Malaysia is 00. For more information, dial 103. Internet There are numerous Internet cafes in George Town, free wifi for Starbucks customers and most hotels and resorts offer free or chargeable Internet access to their guests. Tipping Tipping is not mandatory but is widely practiced. RM2-RM5. Tourist Information Centers Please contact Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board for tourist information. (http://tourism.gov.my) Water Tap water is safe for drinking in Malaysia, provided that it is boiled first. Hotels usually provide bottled water for guests in their rooms. Working week Businesses serving the tourist market normally operate throughout. The official start of the week is on Sunday. Banks Money can be changed at most hotels, banks and at the airport. Banks and moneychangers are located at George Town, with banks being open Sun - Wed :9.30am to 4.30pm, Thurs :9.30am to 4.00pm. Friday/Saturday*/Public Holiday: Closed Currency The Malaysian currency unit is Ringgit (RM) and sen, where 100 sen equals one Ringgit. Most establishments accept major travellers' cheques and credit cards. US$ 1 is roughly RM 3.20 (Check www.oanda.com for up to date exchange rates). Foreign currency can be converted at banks and moneychangers. Visitors are not permitted to take more than RM 10,000 in Malaysian currency out of the country and no more in foreign currency than was brought in. Anti-drug law Visitors to Malaysia are advised that the trafficking of drugs in the country is an offence punishable by the death penalty. Electricity Malaysian electricity voltage is on a 240 volt 50-cycle system and uses a UK-style three-pin plug. European two-pin plugs can be used with a simple plastic adaptor, freely available. Health The only vaccination requirements are yellow fever for those from infected areas. Cholera, smallpox and malaria have largely been eliminated. Immigration Citizens from the following countries are required to have a visa to visit Malaysia: North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China. Nationals other than those stated will receive a visa upon arrival or are allowed to enter Malaysia without a visa for a visit not exceeding three months. However, it is recommended that visa enquiries are made at the Malaysian embassy or Malaysian consulate closest to you, as regulations are subject to change. Also check http://www.imi.gov.my/ for updated information. |
