Malaysia is a tropical, multicultural country in Southeast Asia where 17.6% of its growing population of over 30 million people is between the ages of 25 and 34. Its three main ethnic communities are Malays, Chinese, and Indians. As a Muslim-majority country, Malaysia is quite conservative, but locals are generally nice and friendly to outsiders.
Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, ranks 1st place on Preply’s 2022 Top 20 Global Cities For Expats. The country itself ranks 18th place on both the 2022 Global Peace Index and 2022 Expat Insider list, as well as 42nd place on the Legatum Prosperity Index.
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Malaysia is a melting pot of culture, and its food reflects that. Malaysian cuisine draws from its long history of colonialism, immigration, and settlement; with influences from Indonesia, India, China, and Thailand, as well as the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. So you can expect a wide range of flavourful, aromatic, and savory dishes. Local food is generally cheap, with meals usually under RM12 or $2.60.
Some food experiences to try:
Although Malaysia is experiencing a rising cost of living (food, housing, utilities, etc.), it’s still generally affordable as compared to Western countries. The people are more laid back, and you also have access to quality healthcare and medical facilities.
From captivating nature, beaches and wildlife; to amazing and diverse food, architecture, and culture - you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do. Just touring interstate is enough to give you a wealth of new, fun, and memorable experiences. Some places to visit in Malaysia:
Located near the equator, Malaysia comes with high temperatures and wet months throughout the year due to its tropical climate. The average daily temperature is between 21°C and 32°C, so leave your winter coats behind, and pack a lot of sunscreen.
The Malaysian public transportation system has accessibility, connectivity, and reliability issues. If you plan on taking the bus or train to work, then it’s best you live close to a bus/train station or your workplace, to reduce the friction you will undoubtedly face when opting to use public transportation to get from one place to another.
Imported goods are subjected to import duties and Sales & Service Tax (SST), and some food items may be subjected to an extra Malaysian Custom Excise import duty. This is one reason why imported tobacco products, beer, and cars are more expensive in Malaysia.
As one of the most stable and fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, Malaysia boasts a diversified, open economy that’s driven by its main sectors - agriculture, commodity, manufacturing, service, and now tech. Combine that with its relatively affordable cost of living, and you’ve got a great place to start your career as a graduate.
As a non-local recent graduate, landing a full-time job in Malaysia can be challenging. Malaysia has government policies that prioritise hiring local Malaysian talent, as seen in the Foreign Workers & Expatriates Application guide by its Ministry of Human Resources.
On the other hand, there are a lot of opportunities available. According to TalentCorp’s Critical Occupations List 2020/2021, Malaysia has 42 essential occupations that are currently hard to fill, such as:
An easier path into Malaysia is to start working in a global company in your home country first, and then apply for a transfer to its Malaysian office. You also have a better chance of securing a job at a multinational corporation in Malaysia, like Petronas, in the following areas:
Here’s an extensive list of graduate employers in Malaysia to check out.
If you need more help finding a job in Malaysia, check out these recruitment agencies you can reach out to with your resume and profile:
Getting a job permit in Malaysia requires navigating a large degree of bureaucracy. The government imposes a quota (also known as a dependency ratio ceiling, or DRC) on certain sectors and in addition, imposes a levy.
As a non-local employee, you’re not even able to apply for a work visa by yourself. Your employer must do this. It’s crucial that you confirm your visa sponsorship with your hiring company before even thinking about moving to Malaysia.
There currently isn’t a directory that allows you to filter companies in Malaysia that are willing to sponsor work visas. So you need to go about this the manual way, reviewing visa requirements on Prosple job listings or searching “job visa sponsorship Malaysia” on Google.
If you’re going down the self-employed or startup route, there are some additional options. In an effort to attract talent and investment, a new DE Rantau visa (a program for foreign digital nomads), together with the Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Program visa (or MTEP, a program for tech startup entrepreneurs) have both recently been rolled out. Note that for the latter, you don’t necessarily need a track record with an established business - you just need to be a founder or co-founder with an identified tech business idea. Both programs offer a 12-month visa, with the option to renew after the first 12 months.
Working hours and leave entitlement in Malaysia
The usual working days in Malaysia are Mondays to Fridays, 9 am to 6 pm, with Saturdays and Sundays being off days. This may vary depending on the state (e.g. Johor) and the industry you work in.
According to the 2022 amendment of the Employment Act 1955, weekly working hours in Malaysia were reduced from 48 hours to 45 hours. However, there’s a culture of working overtime without overtime pay, so this is something to potentially bring up during your job interview.
As for paid annual leave or paid time off (PTO), here’s the minimum amount you’re entitled to:
Though this amount sounds low, fret not, as Malaysia observes a number of national and regional holidays each year like Chinese New Year and the Sultan of Johor's birthday. By law, you’re entitled to a minimum of 11 gazetted public holidays.
You’re also entitled to 14 days of sick leave in a year.
New mothers are entitled to 98 days of paid maternity leave, whereas new fathers are entitled to 7 days of paid paternity leave.
The cost of living in Malaysia is generally cheaper than in Western countries and Asian countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, with Malaysia being about 50% cheaper than the United States.
If you eat out, local food is cheap, and healthcare and transportation are affordable too. Most of Malaysia’s urban areas have good internet coverage and connectivity as well.
Now, navigating a multicultural country like Malaysia, which has diverse customs and traditions, may be overwhelming at first. The good thing is that as long as you’re sociable and open to learning, most locals will be more than happy to teach you the ropes.
Bahasa Malaysia or simply, or Malay, is the official national language of the country.
Not to worry though as the English language is also widely spoken and understood, especially in urban areas like Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur. This is mainly due to Malaysia’s colonial past. Other languages spoken in the country like Mandarin or Tamil are also a testament to its multicultural heritage and ethnicities.
The country is a collectivist society, where the needs of the group are emphasised over the needs of the individual. It’s also one where hierarchy is more widely accepted. This is part of the reason why politeness and respect are widely practised in different settings.
For example, it’s considered polite and respectful (in a non-professional setting) to refer to someone much older than you as “Aunty” or “Uncle”, even if you’re not related. And sometimes, rather than saying “You’re welcome”, Malaysians might use “Thank you” in response instead.
In terms of communication, locals tend to prefer a more indirect, subtle approach to prevent others from getting offended. Feedback is best given privately or on a one-to-one basis. And when it comes to online communication like social media, it’s best to be mindful of what you post as the government does exercise tight control over online content.
You’re probably going to score a job in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor, two of the most populous urban states in Malaysia. Some areas in those states to consider living in are Bangsar, Hartamas, Mont Kiara, KL Sentral, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Desa ParkCity, SS2, and Bandar Utama. You can look for properties to rent here:
Prices vary based on location, but rent in Malaysia is quite reasonable. Here are the average rental prices in Malaysia, according to Numbeo:
Rental agreements are usually signed on a one to two-year basis, with an option to renew written in the lease. The accommodation you rent usually comes in one of three conditions:
You’re usually required to pay two months’ rent and one month’s utilities as a deposit to secure your place. Your landlord typically pays the monthly maintenance fees, while you’re responsible for paying monthly bills that aren’t included in your rent, such as:
Malaysia has a pretty well-developed infrastructure and transportation networks. People living in major cities like Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, and so on can easily get by without a car thanks to the many modes of transport. For example, the integrated public transportation system in the Klang Valley - which covers Kuala Lumpur, its surrounding suburbs, and other towns and cities - includes the Light Rail Transit (LRT), monorail, railway, and bus services.
E-hailing services such as Grab, MyCar, or AirAsia ride can also be your alternative throughout your time in Malaysia. It’s not advisable to ride in a taxi unless they agree to use their meters or you book them through Grab, the biggest e-hailing service provider in Malaysia.
On the days you feel like driving, you can try short-term rentals from trusted car rental companies like SOCAR, Avis, or GoCar.
In terms of air travel, low-cost airlines like AirAsia and Firefly offer an affordable means of exploring the wider region, while air-conditioned trains can be taken to visit the neighboring cities or states.
You’re all set when it comes to digital connectivity, as Malaysia’s average mobile download speed ranks 64th place at 49.79Mbps, and its average broadband download speed ranks 47th place at 124.62Mbps. 5G networks have also begun rolling out in 2021.
Buy a prepaid SIM card (passport required) from one of Malaysia’s local networks upon arrival at the airport. It’s cheap and is enough to get you by as you settle in. Once you are, you can opt to convert your prepaid SIM to a postpaid plan.
These are the main telco companies, all with somewhat similar call rates and data plans that you can choose from:
For home broadband in Malaysia, TIME dotCom currently offers the lowest rate with the highest speeds, where you pay RM99 / ~$21 per month for unlimited 100Mbps. However, it is limited to high-rise buildings due to licensing issues. TM UniFi service has the widest coverage at the moment, covering most urban areas in Peninsula Malaysia. You can look into either one of these internet service providers, depending on your needs. Other options to choose from are Celcom Home Fibre, Maxis ONEHome, and DIGI Internet Freedom.
Locals love shopping online on platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and Zalora; and retail shopping in malls like Pavilion, KLCC, and Mid Valley. Food and groceries are easy to order as well, through delivery platforms like Grab, Foodpanda, and Beep. You basically don’t need to leave your home if you don’t want to, especially if you live in the Klang Valley area.
Want to know what’s up in Malaysia? Follow platforms and online profiles like SAYS, Free Malaysia Today, DiscoverKL, Tatler, TikTok - Place Malaysia, and Ivor Xian. And what better way to meet new people in Malaysia than to join a community interest group or two or three? Here are some ideas you can try:
You may also want to take advantage of the fact that your workplace peers will typically organise occasional after-work group activities. This is the norm, especially among younger employees.
What’s interesting about nightlife in Malaysia is that there’s something for everyone. This is especially true if you live in more urban cities like Kuala Lumpur or Penang. There are a number of clubs and bars to check out like Bar Trigona, which ranks 29th place on the 2022 Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, head on over to a night market or a roadside food stall for some late-night shopping and food. And if you prefer something more heart-pumping, enjoy a fun round of badminton or karaoke instead!
Malaysia has both private and public healthcare. The quality and standard of medical care here are widely accepted to be high, as most hospitals are well-equipped and staff competent.
As an expatriate, you can benefit from and access a range of public and private hospitals offering high-quality, competitively priced healthcare but may not be eligible for the same subsidised rates that local citizens pay, as you are not allowed to apply to the local government insurance scheme.
There are several excellent private international medical insurance policies available for you to apply for, which can be used to pay for any medical costs incurred at public and private hospitals in Malaysia.
GeoBlue Xplorer and Cigna Global Medical are two reliable and well-known insurers.
It’s also important to note that if you have an emergency, you do not dial 911 in Malaysia. Call 999 instead. It’s the number of the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS) team.
Before arriving in Malaysia, it’s best that you ensure all your routine vaccinations are up to date. Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, B, cholera, rabies, typhoid, and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations. If you arrive from a country where yellow fever is a risk, then proof of yellow fever vaccination is required.
As for the COVID-19 vaccination, Malaysia currently allows entry regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status. You're not required to undertake quarantine or complete a pre-departure or on-arrival COVID-19 test. If you contract COVID-19 while in Malaysia, you are required to complete a 7-day home quarantine. However, this is subject to your employer’s approval. You may need to take necessary COVID-19 and booster shots, also subject to your employer’s policy.
According to the most recent COVID-19 SOP, wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory except for those who test positive for the disease and in locations like public transportation, e-hailing services, and healthcare facilities.
For precautionary purposes, monitor the websites of the Malaysian Department of Immigration, My Safe Travel, and Malaysia Ministry of Health, or their social media for any changes to entry requirements.
The Malaysian currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), also known as Ringgit Malaysia (RM). There are a number of local and international banks in Malaysia like HSBC and Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank for short). And Bank Negara Malaysia, or the Central Bank of Malaysia is a great source of information for any financial questions you may have.
Some employers require you to have a specific bank account for payment, but otherwise, you may want to consider opening a bank account with a local bank like Maybank or CIMB to facilitate your daily life in Malaysia.
Opening a bank account in Malaysia, like most countries, requires:
You should also know that Malaysia is fast becoming a cashless society, with most metropolitan areas accepting cashless payment options via chip or QR code.
The DuitNow service (“duit” is a Malay word that translates to “money” and it sounds like “do it”) was even introduced to allow customers of participating banks to send and/or receive funds between e-wallet and internet banking accounts.
Some e-wallets that are good to have are:
Tax-wise, you’re considered a tax resident if you reside in Malaysia for at least 182 days a year and your income derived in Malaysia is taxed. Residents are subject to an income tax scale ranging from 1 to 28%, while non-residents are taxed up to 30%. You can get more tax info from Malaysia’s Inland Board of Revenue.
Before moving abroad, you should know what your home country’s embassy can do to safeguard your legal and diplomatic interests.
There’s a distinct difference between embassies and consulates.
Embassies are mostly involved in a nation's high-profile politics or numerous diplomatic issues, while consulates are heavily involved in matters around expatriate communities and the local administration.
Here’s an important diplomatic and consular list that contains names of diplomatic ranking officials of all diplomatic and consular missions and their spouses residing in Malaysia.
The list also includes the heads of honorary consular representations and senior members of International Organisations residing in Malaysia.
Jump right in and check out the graduate job and internships open right now in Malaysia. Happy job hunting!