MALAYSIA INFO
COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Malaysia is a southeast
Asian country that is simultaneously modern, traditional, developed and
historic with a peaceful multicultural population. Indigenous Malay and traditional
tribes such as the Iban and Bidayuh live harmoniously alongside a large
Chinese and Indian populace and this seamless blending of cultures lends
Malaysia an international flavour that few countries can boast.
With an equatorial
climate and inviting culture, Malaysia is a welcoming country in which to visit
and study. Crime is low and transport links are excellent with major towns and
cities connected by air and, failing that, by inexpensive bus. Opportunities for
a vivid cultural experience are very high while politically and economically
the country is considered to be stable.
Peninsular (West) Malaysia is a federation of states stretching south of Thailand - Bukit Kayu Hitam(meaning "hill of black wood" in Malay)which is located in Kedah state, and north of Singapore (Johor state). This is where you'll find the capital, Kuala Lumpur (known simply as KL) and the major cities of Penang, Johor Bharu and Melaka. East Malaysia, the northern part of the island of Borneo, consists of Sarawak and Sabah and is host to some of the world's most famous jungle, the orang-utan, and to Kuching (meaning 'cat' in Malay), one of Asia's most liveable cities.
PEOPLE
Malaysia is truly multicultural, founded on a vibrant fusion of
Malay, Chinese, Indians and other indigenous cultures and customs. Malaysia has a
population of about 26 million people, comprising Malays, Chinese, Indians and
other minority ethnic groups. Bahasa Malaysia is the national language, but
English is spoken widely. Islam is the national religion, but freedom of
worship is guaranteed by the Malaysian Constitution.
LANGUAGES
Bahasa Malaysia, spoken by all Malaysians, is the nation’s
official language. Each race also speaks specific languages indigenous to them
- the Chinese speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, and other dialects while the
Indians generally speak Tamil, Hindi, Punjabi, and other dialects. Indigenous
tribal peoples generally communicate in Bahasa Malaysia. Despite the
combination of different languages spoken all over Malaysia, English definitely
holds the first runner-up to the national official language. English is widely
spoken in the cities and towns among all the races.
FOOD
Eating and food is a popular Malaysian pastime
and it comes as no surprise that our country is well known for its variety of
food. Almost anywhere you go you'll be reminded of food in its many splendours
and variation of enticements. The unique and authentic cooking styles and
flavours of Malay, Chinese, Indian and the other ethnic communities is a very
fulfilling experience. Dining out is relatively inexpensive. You can dine in
five-star hotels, food courts, hawker centre, 'kopitiam' (Chinese
coffee shops), restaurants, local and international fast food outlets or even
alfresco at roadside stalls. Through the decades the interesting potpourri of
local cuisine has gone through many transformations, resulting in what has been
termed as fusion food or 'improved' versions of favourite dishes.
EDUCATION OVERVIEW
An important result of
Malaysia's carefully managed modernisation is a steadily improving education
system that has poured millions into research and development, and to encouraging
international students into the country. The quality of teaching in most
institutions has improved greatly over recent years, following a government
decree that all teachers and lecturers have to possess a degree in the subject
that they are teaching, which was not the case before the turn of the century.
On the back of its
enduring economic and industrial boom, Malaysia is trying hard to position
itself as the Asian destination of choice for international students seeking to
study abroad, and with some success. Currently there are around 50,000 students
from 100 countries in Malaysian tertiary education - and the country wants
to promote a multicultural image that reflects the country itself.
The governing authority
of higher educational institutions is the Ministry of Higher Education which
governs:
- Public Universities: fully funded government
universities
- Polytechnics: which train school
leavers to be skilled technical assistants and technicians in various
engineering fields, or junior & middle level executives
- Community Colleges: institutions for SPM or
SPM(V) school leavers to train, 'reskill' or 'up-skill' themselves
- Teacher Training Colleges: responsible for producing
teachers under the management of Teacher Education Division in the Ministry
of Education
- Technical & Vocational
Education: an
alternative to academic qualifications. It emphasises hands-on training
and new skills
- Private Universities: privately owned and
established by financially sound corporations. They can confer the award of
bachelor degrees & other higher qualifications
- Foreign University Branch
Campuses: universities
from foreign countries, which provide the option for students in Malaysia
to obtain foreign tertiary qualifications locally instead of going
abroad.
- Private Colleges: colleges run by the
private sector to provide tertiary education to school leavers
Malaysia has also
seen support from a number of international universities, such as Australia's
Monash University and the University of Nottingham in the UK. These have branch
campuses offering exactly the same courses as their home country institutions
but, of course, at a fraction of the cost. For example, the tuition fee
of a three-year UK engineering degree is priced at about US$7,600 per year in
the Malaysian branch compared to US$24,000 per year in the UK main
campus.
Such courses offer students the chance to study at the overseas campus for one or two semesters and allow students to graduate from two universities at the same time - the Malaysian one and the overseas host institution. Two degrees for the price of one anybody? There is also a prevalence of courses known as 'Two-plus-one' twinning degrees where you enrol in the Malaysian course and spend a year overseas at a twinned institution, perhaps in Australia, New Zealand or the UK. Great for your learning and cultural understanding of two different parts of the world.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
Student hostel
accommodation does exist, as well as private renting, although this is not as
plentiful as in many other countries. Most student hostels have a student
canteen that will offer a wide variety of meals at reasonable prices. Room
rates are not inclusive of bedding and cleaning. Postgraduate students may be
accommodated in private residences. It should be pointed out that the rates can
vary depending on the type of lodging, proximity to campus and the other
relevant factors. Generally, information on private residences for rent are
available through the Student Affairs Department and the local newspapers. For
detailed information, see our Accommodation page.
Two words describe
Malaysia's climate: hot and wet, averaging 32 degreesC and 267cm of rain per
year, often at the same time. Being close to the equator and with a lot of
jungle interior, Malaysia rarely gets cold, though you may need a jacket around
Chinese New Year in February. It is a very humid climate that can be sunny for
much of the day followed by short bursts of extremely intense rain. There are
monsoon patterns from December until February but, frankly, you won't notice a
great deal of difference. The afternoon rains keep the temperatures down. Buy a
raincoat and at least three umbrellas. And some sunscreen. When it is very
humid, it can be unpleasant. Drink a lot of water all the time.
Light clothing will be
best suited for Malaysia's climate. However, it is important to remember that
Malaysia is a Muslim country and you must respect the national code of dress.
Dress conservatively. Bermuda shorts and flip flops would be seen as crass at
best of times and will not endear you to the locals.
Air Malaysia provides
flights between almost all major towns and cities and it is worth noting that
if you book an international flight into Kuala Lumpur you can get a return
flight to another destination for free. Otherwise the road systems in the country
are generally pretty good, better than in neighbouring Thailand and Indonesia.
The buses are efficient and not too bumpy and are a great way to get around
because, although slow, they are a very cheap way to see rural Malaysia in all
its beauty.
In the cities transport is generally excellent. KL has a modern and efficient
train system to rival any in the world. Smaller towns provide an enormous
number of taxis that will take you any distance for a small amount of money.
This is one unique aspect that makes Malaysia
stand out as a place to live and study. The food is cheap, life in general is
easy to get by with even little means (depending on your thriftiness). Below is
a little summary of what the avergae expense is like.
|
Item |
Price [ Malaysian
Ringgit (RM) ] |
|
Mineral / bottled water (small
size) |
1.00 |
|
Litre of petrol |
1.80 |
|
Small bottle of beer |
11.00 |
|
Internet access |
3.00 |
|
Average restaurant meal |
10.00 |
|
Taxi / cab ride |
Varies with an initial starting
price of 2.00 on the meter to as much as you go. Sometimes you can negotiate
maybe from 15.00 for short rides. |
|
Entertainment (Cinemas) |
10.00 and above |
SUMMARY
In general
statement, cost of living is estimated around US$3,000 - $4,000 per year, which
you would agree, is much cheaper than the US or Europe.For more information on living expenses, pls download the living expenses document here. To check pricing in your
local currency, you can make use of this money
convertor.
Dialing code: 60
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (RM)
Time zone: GMT/UTC +8 ()
The Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is issued in notes from RM1 to RM500,
and shillings from
1 sen to 50 sen (cents).
Major credit cards are accepted. All commercial banks are authorized foreign exchange
dealers, and licensed money changers can be found in urban centre, key entry / exit points
and shopping complexes.
USEFUL LINKS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia
