Welcome to the ExpatGo Guides Home Page.

Here, we’ll share with you everything we know about life in Malaysia, including how to get here in the first place, how to find somewhere to stay, how to get around and how to stay safe, and how to make the most of your time here, for yourself and your family and friends.

It is advisable for expats living in Malaysia for an extended period to register with their embassy/consulate upon arrival. Even if it’s just for an invite to the High Commissioner’s cocktail party, it is a good idea to find out what is going on. It would also be easier for them to contact you when there is something of interest or emergency support is required.

For information on Banking, Furniture, Government Initiatives, Investments, Maids, Courier Services and Telecommunications, scroll down; or for in-depth information in one of our specialist ExpatGo Guides, click one of the buttons in the Index.

Emergency numbers and local authorities

Police and Ambulance / Fire and Rescue / Civil Defense: 999 (or from mobile phone 112)
KL Tourist Police 03-2149 6590; DBKL (KL City Hall) 03-2617 9000

The ExpatGo Guides – Index

Banking in Malaysia

Malaysia has large number of banks to choose from, both local and international. Some local banks include Maybank and CIMB. Some international banks in Malaysia include Citibank, HSCB, Royal Bank of Scotland, UOB, and Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia.

Read more about Banking in Malaysia.

Furniture in Malaysia

If you choose to leave your own furniture back in your home country, there are several options available to you here in Malaysia. When you’re living in your new Malaysian home, you’re bound to want some nice furniture.

Fortunately, furniture in Malaysia is affordable, especially locally manufactured products. You can find local and imported furniture in all the major shopping malls. and there is even an IKEA in Damansara just outside KL if you like to self-assemble!

Second hand furniture is also available but not particularly common. You can check the local daily newspapers’ classifieds pages for garage sales and warehouse sales for good bargains.

Read more about Furniture in Malaysia.

Government Initiatives in Malaysia

The Malaysian government has a whole range of plans and schemes in place to help promote and accelerate the development of the country and to ensure that the ambition of being a fully-developed nation by 2020 is fully realised. One of the goals is to make the Kuala Lumpur one of the top 20 most livable cities in the world.

It is always important for expats to have a level of awareness of the government’s plans and understand what changes are being made. The initiatives and regulations can certainly positively and sometimes negatively impact living in Malaysia.

Read more about Government Initiatives

Insurance in Malaysia

Making sure you have good insurance coverage is particularly when living in a foreign country. Employees of major companies will be given some insurance coverage, but it is worth finding out exactly what is covered.

If you already have insurance in your home country, make sure it covers you while you’re an expat in Malaysia (and also be sure to keep your payments up to date).

Read more about Insurance in Malaysia

Investment and Financial Planning in Malaysia

Good investment planning can turn your goals from dreams into realities. This planning involves more than trying to pick the “right” investments. How you allocate your money among different types of investments can have a greater effect on investment success than the individual investments you choose.

Read more about Investment and Financial Planning in Malaysia

Maids in Malaysia

One very appealing aspect about living in Malaysia is that you can get relatively cheap labor, which can make life a lot easier. There are many people who maximise these opportunities to get others to do the more menial tasks in life – domestic cleaning and cooking, driving cars, cleaning cars, gardening, painting and household repairs.

Most of this work is not done by Malaysians but typically foreign workers in region, such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Philippines and Cambodia.

Read more about Maids in Malaysia

Post & Courier Services in Malaysia

When you’re first living in Malaysia, you should write to the folks back home or send a souvenir you’ve found at the duty-free shop. Or you may want to tell everybody how great Malaysia is and check how everyone is doing on the other side of the world.

Read more about Post Courier Services in Malaysia.

Telecommunications in Malaysia

Malaysia has a highly advanced communications infrastructure. Landlines for home and business are available almost anywhere in the country.

Broadband and wireless Internet services are accessible in a growing area of KL and other major cities – broadband penetration currently stands at 21% and internet penetration at 63.5%. Hand phones are everywhere with 1,026 mobile phone subscribers per 1,000 inhabitants.

Read more about Telecommunications in Malaysia.