This advice has been reviewed and issued with an amendment to the Health section (revised HIV/AIDS statistics).  The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

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Travel Summary

• There is a general threat from terrorism in Malaysia.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• The Malaysian Ministry of Health has banned the import of certain dairy products from China and advised retailers to withdraw products whilst checks are made to ensure goods are safe for consumption.  You should follow Malaysian Government advice contained in the media or refer to the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia for further guidance:  http://fsis.moh.gov.my/fqc/
  
  
• Foreign nationals have been kidnapped in the past in East Malaysia and we believe that this threat remains.Boats travelling to and from offshore islands and dive sites are possible targets.  If you wish to visit resorts on, and islands off, Eastern Sabah, you should exercise extreme caution.
  
  
• If you plan to travel over the border to Thailand you should be aware that there has been a resurgence of terrorism in southern Thailand, particularly in the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla.  We advise against all but essential travel to these Thai provinces.  See the travel advice for Thailand for more details.
  
  
• You should not become involved with drugs of any kind: possession of even very small quantities can lead to imprisonment or the death penalty.  See the Local Laws and Customs section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Around 250,000 British nationals visit Malaysia each year (Source: Immigration Malaysia).  Most visits are trouble-free.  The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in 2007 were for replacing lost and stolen passports; assisting victims of bag snatching and gambling scams; and deaths, mostly from natural causes.
  
  
• Malaysia is a multicultural but predominantly Muslim country, and as such you should respect local social conventions at all times.  See the Local Laws and Customs section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.   See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

• Incidents of bag snatching are common. There have been many cases of bags being snatched by thieves on motorbikes. Deaths have occurred where victims held on to their bags. When going out, avoid carrying valuables you, and be aware of your surroundings.
  
• Take particular care of your belongings especially your passport, as visitors' passports have been stolen on aircraft, cafes, airport and railway terminals, and from hotel rooms.
  
• There have been a number of tourists taken in by gambling scams. This has usually involved being befriended by a stranger in an attempt to gain the victim’s confidence.  Organised groups have used this approach as a ploy to take you back to their house where the victim has been encouraged to play cards, at the end of which they  are intimidated into paying large sums of money, or making forced purchases of jewellery as payment of gambling debts.  These groups are sometimes armed andare known to operate in major tourist areas, including shopping centres, food malls and around hostels/hotels.
  
• Be careful if offered a drink by a stranger, even in a reputable bar or restaurant.  Such approaches can involve spiked drinks, and have resulted in cases of robbery and assault.
  
• Do not open your hotel room door to strangers, even those wearing hotel uniform, and especially late at night.  This applies particularly to women travelling alone.
• Credit card and ATM fraud is widespread. Take great care when making payments by credit card and using ATMs. There have been many instances where cards have been duplicated and skimming devices added to ATMs.
  
  

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Malaysia Country Profile.

Police permission is required for certain kinds of public gatherings in Malaysia. Since October 2007 there have been demonstrations which did not have the required police permission. Police have sometimes used tear gas and water cannons to control crowds. You should exercise caution and avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people which might place you at risk. 

Local Travel

Road Travel

A UK driving licence can be used in Malaysia for three months only.  If you intend staying in Malaysia for longer than three months you should get either a Malaysian driving licence or an annually renewable International Driving Permit.

If you intend to hire cars, motorcycles or any motorised water sport equipment, talk to your travel insurer to check if it is covered by your insurance policy.

Road conditions in Peninsular Malaysia are generally good but less so in East Malaysia.  Traffic (particularly motor cyclists) will not always stop at traffic lights or on pedestrian crossings.  Visitors should take care when crossing the street to avoid accidents.  If you are involved in a road accident you are obliged by law to remain at the scene until the police have attended. However, if a crowd should gather, it would be prudent to leave the scene and report to the nearest police station.

There have been a number of fatal bus crashes in Malaysia, particularly on overnight journeys.  Choose a reputable operator for your journey.

If you rent a motorbike you should take the same safety precautions as in the UK. Malaysian law states that helmets must be worn.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence in Malaysia and the traffic police regularly carry out breath tests.  Anyone over the legal limit can face a heavy fine or a jail sentence.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Sea and River Travel

Piracy in South East Asian waters is an ongoing problem. There have been a number of attacks against ships in and around Malaysian waters, particularly in the Strait of Malacca and in the waters between Sabah and the southern Philippines.  Mariners should be vigilant and take appropriate precautions; reduce opportunities for theft; establish secure areas onboard; and report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.  Vessels which encounter problems at sea should contact the Maritime Rescue Co-ordinating Centre on the standard distress channel.

There have been instances of passenger boats sinking, usually due to overloading and/or poor maintenance. You should exercise care at all times when travelling by passenger ferry or speedboat and avoid travel on vessels that are clearly overloaded or in poor condition. You should also ensure that life jackets are available.

Water sports and scuba diving

If you choose to rent jet skis or any other type of water sports equipment, you should first consider the dangers involved and satisfy yourself that adequate safety precautions are in place. Once satisfied about this, rent only from reputable operators and insist on sufficient training before use. Also ensure that the operator is licensed and has adequate insurance cover.

The standards maintained by diving schools and rescue services are not always as high and comprehensive as they might be in the UK. Check a dive operator's credentials carefully before using them and ensure that your insurance covers you for all of the activities that you undertake. If you are an experienced diver you should purchase dive specific insurance and check that your qualifications and experience fall within the cover provided. You should contact your issuing authority (ie. PADI or BSAC) if you are in any doubt. If you have had no previous diving experience you should ask your dive operator to explain what cover they offer before signing up for a course; you should also be satisfied that sufficient safety equipment is available on the boat, particularly oxygen. You should also ask about contingency plans, which should include the ability to call for help whilst at sea and to evacuate divers to the nearest hyperbaric chamber if necessary.

The sites of HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales, which lie in international waters off Kuantan, have been declared “Protected Places” under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. You should only dive there on a "look not touch" basis and should not attempt to penetrate the wrecks, which lie in deep water. You should also exercise extreme caution. One British diver recently died while diving on HMS Repulse. If you have evidence of any other type of activity on or near the wrecks, please report it to the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

For more general information see River and Sea Safety

Air Travel

Airport departure tax is included in the ticket price.

Local laws and customs

Entry requirements

Health

General

Travel advice for this country

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