Malaysia General Tips by xuessium

Favorite Thing: The 14 stripes on the Malaysian flag represent the 14 states of Malaysia (Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan).

The blue square represents the harmony of the people.

The crescent symbolises Islam, the national religion and the colour yellow is the colour of royalty*.

Note: As mentioned by VT Member "Muddybok" in his comments, one of the stripes in the Malaysian flag used to represent Singapore when Singapore was part of Malaysia 1963-1965. Singapore left the Federation in 1965 (left is a good word; the truth is, Singapore got kicked out because the political leaders could not see eye-to-eye). Wth Singapore's departure, the stripe came to represent the Federal Territories when they were created.

Fondest Memory: *Malaysia is a Federation with a rotating Constitutional Monarchy among its 9 traditional royal families (Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Negri Sembilan & Selangor).

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Favorite Thing: * No visa is required for nationals of Common-wealth countries except for Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nigeria.

* Nationals from Switzerland, Netherland, San Marino and Liechtenstein do not require visas.

* No visa is required for a stay not exceeding three months for national of Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eqypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kirgystan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco, North Yemen, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, U.A.E., Uruguay and Yemen.

* No visa is required for U.S.A. citizens visiting Malaysia for social, business or academic purposes (except for employment).

* No visa is required for a stay of less than one month for nationals of all ASEAN countries except Myanmar. For a stay exceeding one month a visa will be required, except for nationals Brunei and Singapore.

* No visa is required for a stay not exceeding one month for nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Savador, Estonia, Fiji Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lithuania, Macau SAR, Macedonia, Maldova, Mexico, Moldivia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Sao Tome & Principe, Slovenia, Sudan, Surinam, Tadjikistan, Timor Leste, Togo, Ukraine, Upper Volta, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Vanezuela and Zaire.

* No visa is required for a stay not exceeding 14 days for nationals of Iran (15 days), Iraq, Libya, Syria, Macau (Travel Permit), Portugal Alien Passport, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Somali, Somalia and South Yemen.

Fondest Memory: * Nationals of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Congo Democratic Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Western Sahara, Taiwan, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Colombia, PR China, All Holders Of Cert. Of Identity, All Holders Of Laisses Passer, All Holders OF Titre De Voyage and Afghanistan (Visa With Reference) must obtain a visa before entering Malaysia.

* Nationals of countries other than those stated above (with the exception of Israel) are allowed to enter Malaysia without a visafor a visit not exceeding one month.

Reference website:
Immigration Department of Malaysia

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Favorite Thing: The currency is the Malaysian Ringgit. It was pegged to the US dollars for a while but the Malaysian government has recently (2005) allowed it to float again.


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Favorite Thing: The National Flower of Malaysia is the Hibiscus or Bunga Raya.

The flower is found in abundance throughout the country, and for this very reason, was chosen to be the national flower (in 1960) by Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

There are many varieties of the hibiscus, but the five-petaled Hibiscus rosa sinensis was chosen above the others, as the most symbolically relevant. The five petals of the bunga raya symbolise the Rukunegara (the Five Principles of Nationhood), while the colour red represents courage.

It is believed that the flower first arrived in Malaysia via trade from its original home in the Far East sometime before the 12th century. It is known for its medicinal properties. The roots of the plant are used as a cure for fever and other ailments, while the juice obtained from the leaves and roots is said to be effective in relieving skin eruptions and glandular troubles. Also, the petals were commonly used as cosmetics to darken and highlight women's eyebrows.

The National Animal of Malaysia is the Tiger.

Fondest Memory: Info extracted from:
http://allmalaysia.info/msiaknow/malaysiana/symbols_bungaraya.asp

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