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In the past century, Kuala Lumpur has grown from a green jungle to a modern, bustling city of well over a million people. Like all the Asian cities, KL has, however, plenty of colonial buildings in its center, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India. The twin Petronas Towers skyscrapers - the tallest building in the world - dominate the skyline, while in Merdeka Square stands a 95m (312ft) flagpole. Despite the economic crisis, Kuala Lumpur is currently the site of large-scale development, with work underway on a new US$8 billion city on the southern fringe of the capital as well as an adjoining "ultra-high-tech multimedia supercorridor."
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| August 29, 2008 | | | UTC/GMT is 23:25
+0800 UTC
Kuala Lumpur is on GMT + 8, same as Hong Kong and Singapore |
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- Malaysians follow the Western style of introductions, i.e., the handshake followed by an exchange of business cards.
- As in most Asian countries where public displays of familiarity are discouraged, touching the head is forbidden.
- Suits or safari suits are acceptable for business meetings.
- Business visitors should remember that the Malay population is predominantly Muslim and religious customs should be respected and normal courtesies observed, regarding appointments and punctuality.
- The person who issues the invitation for a meal pays, unless he makes it clear at the beginning that the check will be split.
- Visiting businessmen should be aware of not offending religious and cultural sensitivities. For example, Malay Muslims may feel uncomfortable in functions where alcohol is served.
- Don't be arrogant. Be polite.
- Don't be too critical or outspoken. If you have to disagree, do so in a tactful manner.
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Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry , Tel.:+60 5 253 2233 / +60 84-87 1313 National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia , Tel.:+60-3 2141 9600 American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce , Tel.:+60-3 2148 2407
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Canada High Commission , 17th Floor, Tan & Tan, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur; Tel:+ 60 3 2168 8909 People's Republic of China Embassy , 9th Floor, Shangri La Hotel, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur; Tel.: +60 3 2031 4532 France Embassy, 192 , Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel.: +60-3 2162 0671 German Embassy , Menara Tan & Tan, 26th floor, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur. Tel.:+60 3 2175 1666 Italy Embassy , 99 Jalan U Thant 50720 Kuala Lumpur Tel.: +60-3 4256 5122 Japan Embassy , 11, Persiaran Stonor 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +60-3 2142 7044 United Kingdom High Commission , 142c Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel.: +60-3 2148 2122 United States Embassy , 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50400 Kuala Lumpur. Tel.: +60-3 2168 5000 South Korea Embassy , 9 Jalan Nipah off Jalan Ampang 55000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel.:+60-3 451-2336 Mexico Embassy , 22nd Floor, Tan & Tan, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur; Tel:+60 3 2167 2067 Czech Republic Embassy , 4 Pasan Madge; Tel:+ 60 3 4256 9913 Netherlands Embassy No. 4, Jalan Mesra, 55000 Kuala Lumpur; Tel:+ 60 3 2162 7609
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Business centers generally provide a range of services that include secretarial, translation/interpretation, and office services, including computer rentals, audio/visual equipment rentals, cellular phone rentals, copy and printing services, and temporary office space and staff. Most large hotels (some of which may be listed here) also have business centers that offer many of the same services that independent centers provide. Quest Business Centre ,3, RKT Centre, Jalan Ampang Raja Abdullah, 50300 Kuala Lumpur ; Tel: +60-3 2694 1111 The Ascott Kuala Lumpur Jalan Ampang Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur ; Tel: +60-3 2142 6868 Hilton Kuala Lumpur Jalan Sultan Ismail , Kuala Lumpur Tel.: +60-3 2148 2322 St James Business Centre 22, MNI Twins Tower 2, Jalan Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur ; Tel: +60-3 2164 2626 Plaza Business Center Level 28 , 34 Jln Sultan Ismail Tel.: +60-3 242-1111 Regus Centers Sdn Bhd Level 40, Tower 2, Petronas Twin Towers Kuala Lumpur City Center Tel.: +60-3 2168-4200/300 Servcorp Virtual Office Level 36, Menara Lion 165 Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel.: +60-3 2169 6188/28
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Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) , 41 Jalan Tun Ismail, 50480 Kuala Lumpur,Tel.: +60-3 404 33999 Hilton Kuala Lumpur , Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur Tel.:+60-3 2148 2322 Carcosa Seri Negara , Taman Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur Tel.: +60 3 2282 0237 Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur City Square Center Jalan Tun Razak , Kuala Lumpur Tel.: +60-3 2162-5522
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TQT Translation , Tel.: +60-3 6250 7302 Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysi , Tel.: +60-3 4149-7210
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Fedex , Tel.: +60-3 2179 0340/ Local Toll-free : 1 800 886 363 DHL Worldwide Express , Tel.: +60-3 2095 2032/ Local Toll-free : 1 800 88 8388 Overseas courier service , Tel.: + 60-3 443 8379 TNT Express Worldwide , Tel.: +60-3 2093 6895 UPS , Tel.: +60-3 7784 1233 City Link Express , Tel.: +60 3 2141 1970 / 9231 7077
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All upper-range and most medium-priced hotels are equipped with dataports that allow guests to use laptop computers. Many hotels offer business centers equipped with computers and Internet access. Outside hotels, cyber cafés offer convenient Internet connections: IT Workstation 3, Sungai Wang Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur ; Tel: +60-3 2141 4886 Speed Generation Net Cafe , JLN PANDAN 3/8, TAMAN PANDAN JAYA ; Tel:60 3 9200 1980 Cemerlang Navigation , 1st Floor, Menara Imc, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur; Tel:+ 60 3 2026 5040 Wiz Surf Dotcom Sdn Bhd , G, JLN MEGA MENDUNG, KOMPLEK BANDAR ; +6 03-7984 2766
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A valid passport (and visa if applicable) is required for all persons entering Malaysia. For citizens of France, Germany, United Kingdom , USA, Japan, Italy, Canada, South Korea and the Czech Republic, a visa is not required if your stay does not exceed three months. For Russia and Mexico, a visa is not required if your stay does not exceed one month. Immigration requests that your passport be valid for at least 6 months. A passport is also necessary for travel between Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as between Sabah and Sarawak. Duty-free allowances are 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kilograms of tobacco, 1 liter of alcohol, and perfume worth up to RM 200.
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The area code for Malaysia is 60, for Kuala Lumpur is 03.
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Police/Fire/Ambulance : 994 Tourist Police : 241-5522; 2149 6590/3; 243-5522; 249-6590
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Dial the area code of the city followed by the 8 digits of your correspondent.
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In Kuala Lumpur, cell phones are rented out by Telekom Cellular Sdn Bhd. The prepaid rate includes RM138 for a starter pack, and rental of RM10 per day. Post-paid rate is RM20 per day. Roaming services are available. If you choose to bring your cellular phone into Malaysia, check with your home cellular service provider the compatibility of your phone with systems abroad. Rent a locally compatible cellular phone before you arrive to obtain reasonable rates and reliable service.
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All major currencies can be exchanged easily in the main tourist centers. The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (RM), which is divided into 100 sen. It comes in RM1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 notes. There are no RM500 or RM1000 notes, both of which were withdrawn in 1998 and ceased to be legal tender in July 1999. All major credit cards are accepted at upmarket hotels, restaurants and shops. Travelers checks are accepted by all banks, hotels and large department stores
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Tipping is usually not necessary, unless service is excellent. Most hotels and large restaurants automatically add a 10% service charge in addition to the 5% government tax to the bill.
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Kuala Lumpur is on GMT + 8, same as Hong Kong and Singapore
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In Malaysia, the usual rate of sales tax is 10%. There is no VAT.
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The electricity supply is 220v, 50 Hz.
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Internal transportation in Kuala Lumpur is efficient and cheap. It includes air-conditioned express buses and trains and long distance taxi services. When using public transportation, always carry Malaysian ringgit notes of small denominations as well as some coins. Taxis can be hailed on the street or at designated stands. (Rides between midnight and 6AM are subject to a 50% surcharge.) Almost all buses in Kuala Lumpur are run by two consortiums, namely Intrakota and Cityliner which are equipped with a one man operated ticket vending machine. Most of the local buses tend to be overcrowded.
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Kuala Lumpur is safe from most sanitation-related diseases. However, it is still wise to take extra precautions, like making sure meat is well-cooked, avoiding local dairy products and peeling fresh fruit and raw vegetables. Tap water is considered safe, but bottled water is much safer. Ask your doctor about vaccinations before leaving for Malaysia.
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The following holidays don't have fixed date. Between parenthesis, the dates for 2004. New Year's : January 1 Chinese New Year : January 22-23 Hari Raya Haji : March 8 Maal Hijrah : April 8 Labor Day : May 1 Vesak Day (Birth of the Buddha) : June 2nd Official Birthday of HM the Yang di-Pertuan Agong : June 5th Birth of the Prophet Muhammad : May 2nd National Day : August 31 Deepavali Festival : November 12th, Hari Raya Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan) : November 14th Christmas : December 25
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For a beautiful view of the city while eating, go to Seri Angkasa, a revolving restaurant which serves an excellent lunch, high tea and dinner buffets atop Kuala Lumpur's landmark tower. Alexis Bistro is a hot spot among younger executives who want to dine on Western food. Hakka is a pleasant open-air location that serves classic Malaysian seafood such as chili crab, salt and pepper prawns, and steamed sea bass. One of the city's eating icons, Bon Ton specializes in Straits Chinese cooking. For French-food connoisseurs, Le Coq d'or is a Kuala Lumpur classic set. Wan Fo Yuan is the best-known vegetarian restaurant in the city, and serves excellent tofu and vegetable dishes, while the frenetically busy Seng Kee Restaurant offers great prawn and duck dishes.
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Gifts hunters will find lots of Malaysian handicrafts which range from intricate silver, brass and pewter items to pottery, rattan and wickerwork. Batiks of silk and cotton come in attractive colors and patterns. Art objects and Orientalia are also popular, along with carpets and rugs of silk and fine wool in traditional designs.
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Some of Kuala Lumpur famous attractions include Merdeka Square, Chinatown, Lake Gardens, Golden Triangle. There are also plenty of museums, memorials, art galleries and craft centers in this rich city: the Muzium Negara (National Musem), the Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia (National Library ), the National Art Gallery, The Galeri Petronas, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the Bank Negara Money Museum... For sports fans, it's possible to play golf at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club or at the Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort, tennis at the Kompleks Tennis Negara, or to swim in the Kompleks Renang Kuala Lumpur.
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