Travelers tips 
 

CLIMATE : Equatorial/Treopica
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES : 32 C in the lowlands and 21 C in the highlands
RELATIVE HUMIDITY : 85-95%
CURRENCY: Malaysia Ringgit (RM). Foreign currencies can be changed at banks and hotels as well as
licensed moneychangers. Most hotels charge a nominal  fee for currency conversion.
MAJOR CREDIT CARD AND CHARGE CARDS : VISA, America Express, Diners Club and Mastercard.
BANK HOURS :  Monday-Friday: 9:30 am -3.30pm
Saturday: 9:30am-12 noon
(Closed 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month)
MONEYCHANGERS: Moneychangers can be found at major shopping centres
LOCAL TIME : Standard  Malaysian Time is 8 hours ahead of GMT
ELECTRICITY:240 volts AC/60-cycle system
LANGUAGE: Malay is the official and national language. However, English is widely spoken.

ENTRY INTO MALAYSIA
1. A valid passport (and visa wherever applicable) is required of all persons entering Malaysia.
2. A social of tourist visit pass does not permit the holder to take up employment, business or professional
in Malaysia Borneo or in Brunei. Malaysia Airlines and other airlines operate flights to Kota Kinabalu from
Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Kuching, Bandar Seri Begawan, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo.
Take either Malaysia Airlines or Airasia for flights between Kuala Lumpur and town in Sabah and Sarawak. 
 
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
Taxis are available from the airport into the capital city and major hotels

BY ROAD
Overrland journel by bus or car is easy to arrange between Kuching(Sarawak), Bandar Seri Begawan
(Brunei Darussalam) and Kota Kinabalu(Sabah). Passports are stamped at all the borders.

BY RAIL
Borneo's only railway service in operation is in Sabah. It runs from Tanjung Aru railway station in
Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort and Tenom. The journey to Beaufort takes less than 2 hours, and to Tenom
about 5 hours. The ride by railcar through the Padas River gorge to Tenom is particularly interesting
to visitors.

BY FERRY
Ferry services between Kota Kinabalu and Labuan operate every day from 7:10 am to 3:00pm.

CUSTOMS AND COURTESY
 - Islam is the official religion in both Malaysia and Brunei. Proper dress and manners should be adhered
to at all times. Before entering a mosque, visitors should remove their shoes  and women should ensure
their head, knees and arms are covered. They should not pass in front of people at prayer, and should
not touch the Quaran.

 - It is impolite to point with your index finger(use the right thumb instead) or to beckon someone with 
fingers and palm facing upwards. Instead the whole hand should be waved with palm facing
downwards. Gifts, particularly food, are passed with the right hand.


TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGAL DRUGS CARRIES THE DEATH PENALTY