Overland Malaysia Travel
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Malaysia
- 2 Entering Malaysia with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Malaysia
- 4 Gas and Diesel price in Malaysia
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Malaysia
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Malaysia
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Malaysia
Malaysia consists of the West Malaysia or formerly known as the Malay Peninsular and East Malaysia divided by the South China Sea. The West Malaysia that also host the nation's capital Kuala Lumpur is connected to the Asia landmass bordering with Thailand on the north and the island state of Singapore at its southern tip. Across the South China Sea, East Malaysia consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak that occupies the Island of Borneo with sovereign state Brunei and Indonesia's district of Kalimantan.
Malaysia is an economically and politically stable country, relatively. So the general ambience is peaceful and friendly, and are quite welcoming to tourists and visitors. Being a multiracial and multi cultural country, the Malay Language which is the national language is the most widely spoken, with Cantonese, Hokkien, Tamil, Iban, Dusun, etc. are popular among the respective ethnic groups. Luckily, English the second language and commonly used in business and corporate environment and a safe estimate of 65% of the population can understand English.
Although the majority of the population is predominantly Sunni Muslims, other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. are commonly practiced in Malaysia. Places of worships of each faith are commonplace throughout the countryside.
The most popular gateways by road into Malaysia are at Padang Besar, Bukit Kayu Hitam and Rantau Panjang on the northern border with Thailand or from the South via Singapore at the Johor Singapore Causeway and Malaysia Singapore Secondlink at Tuas respectively. Alternatively one can ship one's vehicle straight into Port Klang in the Malay Peninsular.
Entering Malaysia with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: June 2014
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Malaysia, application instructions and fees see: Malaysia Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
- A Carnet de Passage is mandatory.
Process at border
Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle
Shipping to Malaysia: www.aseantex.com.my acted as our agents on the Malaysian side. They are good people who also overland.
Cost of entry
State the cost for a vehicle to enter
Permitted length of stay
State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.
Driving in Malaysia
Recommended books for Overlanding in Malaysia
Travel insurance for Malaysia
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle insurance requirements
Yes or No if insurance is mandatory, and what kind is acceptable.
Cost of vehicle insurance
State the price of insurance and a time period.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
Describe where insurance can be purchased.
Driving license
International Driving Permit is required, together with a valid driver license or permit from one's country of origin. Vehicle registration cards or proof of ownership should also be at hand always.
If any of these documents are in languages other than English, it would be helpful to have them translated into English on separate copies and stored with them.
Driving side of road
Left.
Left hand drive vehicle can be driven in Malaysia, but must display sign or sticker stating "Left Hand Drive".
Mandatory items in vehicle
State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)
Roads
General Road quality
Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.
Road signs
Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.
Toll roads
List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.
Bribery in Malaysia
Briefly describe how common bribery is and whether it should be expected, and the best way to deal with it.
Checkpoints
Malaysia is generally a peaceful country and as such, military and police checkpoints in not a common sight. There may be some security checkpoints near border crossings to curb smuggling activities and illegal immigrants.
Police roadblocks are frequently conducted around urban areas to check motorists for traffic offenses.
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas and Diesel price in Malaysia
Last updated: October 2013
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Unleaded | RM2.10 MYR per Liter |
| Diesel | RM1.90 MYR per Liter |
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.
Vehicle parking
Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.
Special driving considerations
A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Malaysia - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Malaysia
Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Drinking water
Tap water is not drinkable in Malaysia. Bottled water is easily bought over any convenient store or hypermarket.
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Malaysia
GPS Maps of Malaysia
Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Malaysia
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Malaysia
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- Malaysia: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Malaysia - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Malaysia travel guides at wikivoyage
- Malaysia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
