Safety, health

Crime, criminality

Malaysia is considered one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia. In 2011, the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranked Malaysia as the most peaceful country in Southeast Asia, the fourth safest country in the Asia-Pacific region after New Zealand, Japan, and Australia, and the 19th safest country in the global ranking among 153 countries (Russia was 147th). In terms of crime, tourists can feel almost completely safe here. You can walk absolutely calmly at any time of day or night, anywhere. At least, that's the official position of the local authorities. This is also what all tourist websites write, without delving deeply into the issue and trying to quickly lure tourists into a tour.

In reality, although crime here is much lower than in Russia and many Western countries, and takes much milder forms, it still exists. And tourists become victims not so rarely. So you shouldn't trust the opinion that there is no crime in Malaysia at all and carelessly walk through dark alleys without taking any safety measures.

But to be fair, violent crimes are indeed very rare here, and if they do occur, they are a real emergency for the local police. Locals even say that the police here have lost their edge in fighting crime and are just part of the bureaucratic machine. The police react sluggishly to crime reports and don't always visit crime scenes. It's almost impossible to see patrol officers on the street; they only move in cars. If you are attacked and not seriously injured, be prepared to get to the police station yourself and walk around offices. Although, of course, this is not always the case, but you should always be prepared for the worst. The tourist police operating in the country is essentially a unit of the Royal Malaysian Police tasked with advising tourists on the country's laws. That is, the most they can do for you in an emergency is be translators (from English to Malay) and help fill out various forms.

Street crime mainly manifests itself in the form of pickpockets from Bangladesh, India, and other poor countries in crowded places. There are cases where motorcyclists snatch bags or wallets, usually from women, even in crowded places. At night, walking through dark back alleys, you could easily become a victim of robbery or armed robbery. For those who don't know the difference: robbery involves only violence and physical force, while armed robbery involves the use of weapons, though the result is the same. Rapes have occurred. In general, the crime situation is worse in Kuala Lumpur and large cities. It's much better in small towns and provinces.

Banks consider Malaysia a high-risk country for using plastic cards. Malaysia ranks among the top in the world for plastic card fraud and counterfeiting. Use your cards only when paying at a reputable establishment (decent hotel, restaurant, boutique). Try not to withdraw money from street ATMs; use ATMs located inside banks.

On the island of Borneo, tourists are advised to be more careful when traveling through the state of Sabah, and also to avoid moving 'off the beaten path' or without companions to small remote islands like Sipadan and Tioman.

To enhance security, as of June 1, 2011, foreigners have their fingerprints taken upon entering the country. This mandatory procedure was introduced to combat crime and terrorism and is mainly aimed at combating crimes committed by foreigners. The process of taking prints from both index fingers takes less than a minute.

Here's a story (translated) from a blog of a foreign tourist traveling in Malaysia in February 2011. I hope this story helps you understand what problems you might encounter there:

In short, the guy was severely ripped off, and it was pre-planned. The taxi ride cost him more than a round-trip flight to a neighboring country.

But whatever incidents happen in Malaysia, overall this country is much safer than our homeland, and one reason for that is the strict laws. There are no special features in the laws here; everything that is forbidden and illegal is the same as in other countries, just the punishments are much stricter. Always remember that you need to behave appropriately, not break the laws, adhere to traditional rules of conduct, and then everything will be fine with you. Try not to get involved with drugs, weapons, and prostitution. The penalty for possession, smuggling, and trafficking of drugs here is simple: death penalty. Don't believe it? Watch the movie 'Return to Paradise'.

However, everything written above is far from a reason to refuse a trip to this truly wonderful country. Millions of tourists visit Malaysia annually without any incidents. All that is needed for this is to be vigilant, remember and observe the most basic safety precautions.

Road safety

Malaysia has left-hand traffic. When crossing the road, remember to look in the opposite direction, not left as we do, but right. Be vigilant when crossing the road even on a green light.

If you plan to rent a car or motorcycle, first observe the traffic. According to drivers from Russia, driving on Malaysian roads is more comfortable than at home, but they are probably referring to resort areas where traffic is usually not heavy.

If you decide to rent a vehicle in KL or George Town on Penang, think twice. It's not that the traffic in KL or George Town is crazy, but it is chaotic and unfamiliar to us for sure.

In general, traffic in Malaysia is characterized by calmness and slow speed; no one speeds. According to our observations, possibly subjective, no one tries to immediately close the distance ahead to a dangerously close gap to the car in front, as Russian drivers usually do. Even where it's not necessary, drivers will let you pass just to avoid an accident and will expect the same from you. They are understanding towards tourists behind the wheel or on a motorcycle. If you get used to this kind of traffic, overcome the desire to 'speed' with the breeze, learn to calmly let everyone pass, then you won't have any problems.

By the way, there are very few priority signs on Malaysian roads, and apparently, in most cases, drivers follow the 'left-hand rule', i.e., they let everyone from the left pass. Also, not all local drivers consider it necessary to use turn signals, but this may be a drawback of the simpler and more logical left-hand traffic.

To make it easier to adjust to left-hand traffic, there is a very simple but effective trick: attach a bright marker, like bright tape, to the left side of the motorcycle handlebar or car dashboard, and always keep that 'tape' close to the curb.

As for driver's licenses, they are certainly necessary for renting a car. No one will rent you a car without an International Driving Permit (IDP). In Malaysia, you need to have an IDP in the form of a booklet, not a plastic 'international' one. It's simpler with motorcycles: you can rent a low-power motorcycle or scooter without a license, although in theory, you should have one. In most resort areas, there is practically no police, and even if there are, they don't stop tourists without an urgent need. The most important thing is to wear a helmet and not obviously break the rules.

Health

Malaysia has a very high level of healthcare. In most resort areas and populated places, there are public and private hospitals. If necessary, you can buy any modern medicines at pharmacies. Unlike other Southeast Asian countries, tap water in big cities is drinkable, but we recommend buying bottled water or boiling tap water. It is also not recommended to drink drinks with ice of questionable origin. Even serious establishments may use non-purified water to make ice.

Contrary to popular belief about tropical countries as hotbeds of malaria and various fevers, there is practically no malaria in Malaysia. Dengue fever occurs, but very rarely. They constantly fight these infections, and quite successfully.

Malaria and fevers are transmitted by mosquitoes and gnats, so you should protect yourself from mosquitoes and other bloodsuckers. Local repellents are best for this, but you can also take our home ones, they also work, tested personally. Another very effective remedy is self-adhesive 'Anti Mosquito stickers' made from natural ingredients. They stick to your clothes and will repel mosquitoes and other bloodsuckers for 24 hours. For allergic reactions to bites, besides the traditional medical remedies for us, the balms common in Southeast Asia like Tiger Balm, Bam Serai, Penang Bam, and others work great.

Another danger is monkeys. There are many on the islands, and they seem funny and harmless. But they can actually bite and scratch (this is also from personal experience), and they are carriers of rabies. So if a monkey bites or scratches you, you will have to immediately undergo a course of injections. Read more about this in our instruction: How to behave with monkeys, precautions

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entry into the country at the time of writing. If you are arriving from South America or areas adjacent to the Sahara Desert, you may be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Recommended vaccinations: tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A, B, and malaria.

As in any hot country, ailments such as heatstroke and sunburn remain relevant. The recommendations here are quite simple: drink plenty of fluids, don't overexert or overheat, protect yourself from the sun. Read more about protection and treatment of heatstroke and sunburns here.

Regarding food, Malaysia pays great attention to food hygiene, so you can buy food from street vendors almost without worrying about its freshness and quality. But Malaysian cuisine is very spicy, so you are not immune to stomach upsets even in the most sterile restaurants. Be sure to bring medication for gastrointestinal disorders. You must wash your hands with soap before eating.

Insurance

Even if you are in great shape and healthy, insurance won't hurt, especially if you are traveling independently and for a long period.

There are a huge number of companies and a wide variety of types of insurance. You can get insurance right from home, over the Internet, paying for the policy with a plastic card.

Some policies do not cover the consequences of engaging in extreme sports, such as diving, riding a motorcycle, etc. Some policies require you to pay for treatment on the spot and receive compensation at home. Others, on the contrary, will provide you with free medical care on the spot. There are many different subtleties in insurance, and if you decide to insure your stay, find out all the conditions and carefully study all the terms offered in the contract.

Rules of conduct and useful tips to avoid trouble

By and large, no special rules of conduct are required or expected from foreigners, especially tourists, in Malaysia. You can behave here exactly the same way as at home, of course, if you know how to behave culturally at home. However, there are some rules that are at least desirable to follow, if not mandatory:

• Going topless or without clothes is not recommended, especially outside tourist zones or beaches.
• When visiting temples or mosques, you must take off your shoes and dress in modest clothing that covers your arms and legs. Some temples provide special shoes and robes. If offered, you must wear them or refuse to visit.
• If you are offered drinks as a guest in Malaysia, refusing would be extremely impolite.
• It is not customary to greet women with a handshake.
• Do not use your index finger to point at people or objects. Instead, use your thumb.
• You cannot take food or hand anything over with your left hand. The left hand is used for hygienic purposes in this country, so handing or receiving something with your left hand is considered insulting.
• A person's head is considered sacred in Malaysia, and you should not touch it. Under no circumstances should you pat a Malaysian child on the head (you can pat your own child as much as you like).