Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Report of what it's like to live there - 07/26/08
Personal Experiences from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Not a first experience, lived previously in El Salvador; Spain; Korea; Djibouti.
2. How long have you lived here?
1 year.
3. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Assigned to the U.S. Embassy.
4. Travel time and best routes to this city from Europe or the US:
Over a day, routes include through Singapore, Seoul, or Hong Kong, to the U.S.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Housing ranges from homes to condos. All decent with nice bedrooms, and within easing reach of the Embassy, depending on traffic.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
If you buy local much cheaper, especially vegetables and such. Imported food more expensive as the government still uses taxes to protect local products.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
All sorts of cuisine is availble. All the typical fast food is here, but forget about pork on your pizza or pork sausages for breakfast, it will be chicken.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
There is FedEx, andDHL here. Postal service is ok hre as well.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Filipino and Indonesian maids are available. Salaries vary, but is mostly below the poverty level. We pay above the poverty level and don't worry about or maid skipping out. Abuse of maids is a major problem in malaysia and many are victims of forced labor.
3. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Use ATMs and Credit Cards only at major malls and international stores. Cloning is an issue here.
4. What English-language religious services are available locally?
There are no Jewish service, except in homes of expats. If you are Muslim, there are mosques everywhere. Catholics have a sattering of churches with English services available in nearly all parishes.
5. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
The major local english papers are the New Strait Times and the Star. Both are government-influenced. Malaysiakin.com overs news the government-influenced mainstream is not able to print. The Internation Herald Tribune is also highly read, but subject to some censorship.cost is reasonable.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
I speak a little Malay, but hardly use it as nearly everyone you normally deal with has some level of English 2 or better.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
The city is not set-up for disabled people.
Transportation:
1. Do you drive on the right hand side of the road or the left?
British style here.
2. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Taxis are a gamble, if it is raining forget about them stopping. Also they'll overcharge you if you want to travel somewere too near. They are known to drop you off in the wrong location if they and you aren't familiar with the area. There is a deluxe bus service that is cheap and gice to use to go to Singapore. Trains are safe, take normal precautions against pick pockets.
3. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
Japanese cars are a good bet here, spare parts are available. There are luxury cars here, but the way people drive, not worth the risk of the dents and scratches you will get. Motorbikes are a plague on the rode. I've seen several cause accidents from their reckless driving. Local car are made by Proton and complete junk. Keep your packages in the trunk or hidden, smash and grabs do occur.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
There is Internet available, bandwidth varies and it costs about US$100 per month.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Maxis is used by the Embassy.
3. What is the best way to make phone calls back home?
Embassy has Vonage.
Pets:
1. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?
There are incidents of family dogs being poisoned because local Musim kids were playing with them. Vets are available. Except for the occassional dog poisoning, I haven'theard of proplems with pet care.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Not if you are with the Embassy. EFMs have decent job opportunities within the embassy. There are some volunteer opportunities, otherwise nothing locally.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Business casual. Men can wear a silk batik long-sleeve shirt rather than a suit.
Health & Safety:
1. Pollution index (Good, Moderate, Unhealthy, or Very Unhealthy)?
Usually moderate, unhealthy when haze is heavy.
2. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Some petty crime, crooks riding motorbikes will grab purses if you walk too close to road. Police are not reliable investigators.
3. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Pediatrics supplies, even in private hosiptals are not adequte. Local nurses are substandard. Doctors are usually trained in the UK, US, or continental Europe. I'd be wary of locally trained doctors without international training. If it is serious and you can make the trip go to Singapore where the medical care is MUCH higher.
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Hot and sunny or hot, humid, and rainy.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There are a few. Ours go to the International School of Kuala Lumpur. We and our children are happy with the school. Spanish is the second language taught and the student population is diverse.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
ISKL has an elevator for disabled students. Not sure what programs are there for special needs kids.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
There are preschools, but most offer only 1/2 day programs.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Large expat community, including people from oil industry, diplomatic community, and multinationals.
2. Morale among expats:
Medium, the race-based politics and attitude weighs you down. Otherwise Malaysia can be a great experience, especially in Eastern Malaysia, which is more tolerant.
3. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Bars/Clubs/some theater/movies/going out to eat.
4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Single men are happy, KL is a target rich environment. Single women have the opposite experience it seems. Families have a lot of activitites and travel they can share together.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
The city is crawling with gays and lesbians. Even though the country is Muslim dominated, most gays/lesbians are left alone.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
There are all sorts or racial and religious problems. Think Apartheid-lite and you have Malaysia. Things are set to protect the Majority Malays at the expense of the Chinese, Indians, and other ethnicities. Muslims indoctrinated not to consider other religions equal or to mingl. Headscarfs are more a political than a religious statement. Foreign workers are mistreated and police detained two foreign diplomats last year, after they showed their diplomatic credentials, because they were from countries that provide cheap labor here.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
There are cheap trips available to all parts of the country and throughout Southeast Asia from here. Lots of cultural aspects in KL, some concerts, but Muslim extremeist protest the better groups as corruptive of Islamic values, which tend to perform in Singapore rather than in Malaysia.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Batik shirts, local dresses, some local art, pearls, etc.
9. Can you save money?
Not really, unless you don't travel and eat only local food.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes, the social problems aside, Malaysia is an interesting country and most of the people ok.
2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Winter clothes.
3. But don't forget your:
Sunblock.
4. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
6. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
Entrapment is set in Malaysia for part of the film.
7. Do you have any other comments?
The country and government is very class conscious. You will see public firgue use any title ever given them in their name. when you here someone called tan sri or datuk, those are titles and not names.
