ABOUT MALAYSIA
Climate & Weather
Kuala Lumpur lies in the centre of Peninsular Malaysia's western region, which has equatorial climate throughout the year. The equatorial climate is categorised by heavy humidity throughout the year with hot weather and plenty of rain. In Kuala Lumpur, the temperature generally ranges from 30°C to 34°C during the day and 25°C to 28°C during the night, with cooler temperatures during and after heavy rainfall.
Seasons in Malaysia
There are two monsoons that hit Peninsular Malaysia each year. The eastern side gets hit the hardest between October till January with much rainfall and thunderstorms. A mountain range that cuts through the centre of the country provides a light shield to the eastern monsoon, but Kuala Lumpur and other cities on the west still receive much rainfall and storms during this time. From March to April, there is another monsoon that comes from the west and hits places like Kuala Lumpur directly, bringing the most rainfall to Kuala Lumpur. Most of the time, Kuala Lumpur is peppered with showers and occasional thunderstorms. The driest periods are usually between May till July, where there is a respite from the monsoon seasons. However, the storms when they do come are relatively short, and the rains actually bring a cooling atmosphere to the city. For tourists and visitors, this means that Kuala Lumpur is suitable for visits all-year-round, with no particular period or season to avoid.
Attire
Visitors are encouraged to wear light clothing to escape the heat and sweat. T-shirts, short pants and Bermudas are most suitable while a cap or sunglasses will provide you some shielding from the tropical sun. Shopping malls, stores and restaurants are mostly air-conditioned in the city so you don't have to worry about a thing about escaping the heat!
Currency
The Malaysian currency is the Ringgit (RM), which is divided into 100 sen. Ringgit notes are in denominations of RM100, RM50, RM10, RM5, and RM1. Coins are issued in denominations of 50 sen, 20 sen, 10 sen and 5 sen.
Tipping
Most hotels and restaurants impose a 10% service charge and 5% government tax on their bills, so tipping is often not necessary.
Banking Hours
In all states, except for Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu, banking hours are from 9.30am to 4.00pm on weekdays, and from 9.30am to 11.30am on Saturday. Also, banks in all states except Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu close on the first Saturday of every month.
In Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu, banks open from 9.30am to 4.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. They close on Friday. On Thursday, opening hours are from 9.30am to 11.30am except for the first Thursday of every month when they are closed.
Government
Malaysia practices parliamentary democracy. Parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the head of Government is the Prime Minister. The head of State is His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agung.
Religion
Islam is the official religion but Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity and other religions are also freely practiced.
Health Regulation
Visitors from yellow fever-infected areas and several African and Latin American countries must produce yellow fever vaccination certificates. (more details ) |
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