What I should and shouldn't do ? I'd like to know more some taboos for ex. The average cost of living in Malaysia, not including the house rent? (I'll be working in Kuala Lumpur but living in another place, Sri Petaling or Cheras...) Thanks so much if anyone could help me with my concerns
Malaysia - 5 Answers
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1 :
Cost of living is low in Kuala Lumpur if you eat at the hawker center or food courts. Average cost per meal is about RM 5. Petrol is Rm 1.95 per liter. You'll save alot of money if you don't waste it on alcohol, cigarattes, and women. For entertainment, the local cinema cost about RM 10 per ticket. You could play tennis, badminton or go jogging in the many available public sporting facilities eg. Bukit Jalil.
2 :
Taboos : - Don't use left hand to take or give goods, especially to Muslim. - DON'T wear shoes/sandals inside one's residential house. People walk barefoot in the house, or if there are housesandals, the host should offer a pair to you. - depending where you are from, the driver seat is on the right hand side, so people drive on the left lane. - While shorts and sleeveless are permitted, if you go holiday to the muslim states (Kelantan, Trengganu, etc), better cover up more, regardless men or women. Big city, and non-muslim controlled state like Penang, Selangor, Melaka is ok to dress casually. - no topless for women at the beach, regardless which part of malaysia. It is officially a muslim country. - Don't offer or mention anything to do with pig, boar, dog, and its meat, etc etc to muslim people. - Don't offend the way the muslim ladies cover up so much in the middle of the scorching heat (easily 90 degree or more day time), it's the way they dress religiously. Respect. - Don't offer alchohol to Muslims as well. - Majority of Malaysians do not consume alcohol. But there is this group of people who adopt western lifestyle, mostly around Bangsar, Mont Kiara, Bukit Damansara area. - Beware that the people there are very, ehm, busybody. They'd like to know everything about everything, including where you live, how much you make, are you married, etc etc, all those questions which are considered personal in western country are pretty much common conversation material. You do'nt have to answer if you don't want to. Just laugh yourself out of it. - Don't expect consistent punctuality, sometimes they are, sometimes they are not. It is quite easy to differentiate muslim and non-muslim. If one is Malay ethnicity, then 99.99% is Muslim (for the Malays have to be Muslim by birth). Most Chinese are not muslims, but you might be surprised that some are, especially mix origin ones. Good percentage of Indians (not American Indian, but Indian from India origin) are muslim or hindu. Cost of living: To conduct expatriate lifestyle (wine and dine at expatriate-populated area), prepare to pay at least 10-20 Ringgit for a drink (alcoholic), 50 Ringgit or more per person for a meal (soemtimes goes up to 100 for chi-chi restaurant), about 60 to 150 ringgit for a bottle of wine in a restaurant (sorry, no BYO there). BUT, if you go down and dirty to hawker street food, 5 to 10 ringgit for a satisfying meal (2 course meal), 15 ringgit for big bottle of Tiger beer or Carlsberg. Huge price difference. Suggestion: go to hawker, much better food and cheap. Best expatriate hangouts: Bangsar, Mont Kiara, and Sri Hartamas. Depending where you are from, Air conditioner could be a MUST for humidity and heat are almost unforgiveable there. Around 78 to 90 year round (Farenheit).
3 :
SimpleGuy detailed some do's & don'ts which are relevant. I'd just like to add 2 things in general. 1. DO NOT TRUST ANYONE. ANYONE. From high ranking politician to the man-in-the-street. 2. DO NOT WALK ALONE ANYWHERE no matter where you may be. May the Good Lord keep you from harms way.
4 :
1....always walk pairs 2....dont trust people easily
