Truly Asia ?. Review on Malaysia, General

As one comes to relate with Malaysia as truly Asia, I have mixed feeling. I have been in Malaysia for 3 years and was employed in leading IT company in KUALA LUMPUR as Marketing Manager. I have traveled the length and breadth of Malaysia. Let me start by saying the good part of Malaysia

Good : Malaysia is a fast and developing nation, lush green from south to the north except for the city of Kuala Lumpur and suburbs. Landing in KUALA LUMPUR international airport is a treat by itself. One could spend anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours seeing the airport and shopping. Airport is about 70 km from the city center. Currently there are different alternatives to get to the city center a) Airport limousine - 90 to 100 Ringit Malaysia time to travel is 45mts b) KLIA Express Train - 35 Ringit Malaysia time to travel is 28mts c) Budget Taxi - 50 Ringit Malaysia be ready to bargain time to travel is 45 mts d) Airport bus to railway station and then train to city center total 15 Ringit Malaysia time to travel is 1 hour +. City center is 5-10 KM radius from the petronas twin towers.

People in the airport is more than willing to help you. If you have legal document Malaysia customs and immigration authority does not care a damn where you are from and what color you are and which country you are from.

In Kuala Lumpur (KL) there is little to see except for the petronsas tower, Genting highlands, shopping mall, the china town , the KL Towers and few museums. Hotels tariffs depends on which kind of rating you need, in all it is much cheaper than hotels in India and the facilities they offer are good. Don't except people to carry your baggage to your room and things like that. Seldom does bell boys do that.

Eating Food is the best thing in Malaysia, one can have typical Indian food, Malay food, Chinese food and Thai food. Reasonable at most places. Malaysians love eating, so there would be no problem to find a place to eat 24 hours a day. It does not matter if you are veggie or non-veggie. The average Indian food could cost RM 30 - 40 a day. Water is safe to drink.

Making calls in Malaysia, if one is holding a mobile phone all you need is to get isa pre-paid card. Initial charge for pre-paid card is RM 60. Public phone requires you to carry coins.

Traveling in and around KL is by taxi, monorail, komuter train for long distance, and Star LRT within the suburbs. All taxi's are metered but most of them take you for a ride if they know that you are new to the city, so check around how much time and cost it would take to your destination. In KL and in Malaysia one should always carry a passport (why - I will come to the point in the bad side of Malaysia).

Traveling in Malaysia : Internal flights are cheap https://airasia.com one can book online or can book at their office in KL or other cities in Malaysia. All districts compete against each other to woo tourist so all the districts has places to see. The best of all place is Langakawi and Penang. Lot of budget hotels and expensive hotels to choose from. One can also travel by train and tourist bus from KL to the other districts intending to go.

BAD about Malaysia : Malaysians are racist to the core. Chinese population is more than Malay's though officially it is other way round. Indians culminate to about 10%. Indians are at the last of the food chain thus you will find more of Indians sweeping floors, cleaning toilets, begging and mugging.

Malaysian Chinese hold's the Malaysian economy by its throat. Thus if you are any other race other than Chinese it is next to impossible to get a job or survive. Malay's take away most of the government jobs thus it is left to Malaysians Indians.

Most of Indians from India seek job in Malaysia in Software sector and in construction sector. This also these days is now replaced by Chinese or other nationality. The police harass Indians or other colored foreigners except if you are white colored skin. They generally start by asking passport, ask you to open your bag if you are carrying any and last request to give them money. If you are not carrying your passport, be ready to go to the police station. Off late the Indian high commission has been very strict in dealing with this harassment. So anybody traveling to Malaysia is advised to carry the Indian high comm's phone number and if you are employed in Malaysia ensure you register your name and address with high comm.

It is advised not to walk in the night 7pm onwards in Malaysia alone or with few of friends. Mugging and rape is rampant except for in the vicinity of the City center. If you decide to walk in the night ensure you do not carry lot of extra money. Also ensure that a copy of the passport is maintained at your place of stay.