Category Archives: Tips

Public transport in Malaysia, and more specifically in the Klang Valley is largely a hit and miss affair. On one hand, Malaysia has modern and relatively well-maintained transportations, but the often-wide issue with it is its integration for the public.

Prasarana Malaysia Berhad is the main player in the industry as it has a near-monopoly of all the major public transport systems in Malaysia with its major subsidiaries being Rapid KL and Rapid Penang.

Bus

The main artery for the rakyat (common people), the bus industry has grown by leaps and bounds and covers all the major roads and areas in Malaysia. In the Klang Valley itself, there are hundreds of busses running throughout the different areas.

The main bus companies plying its route in the Klang Valley are Rapid KL and Metrobus. Fares are very cheap, however the bus ride would most probably be very congested and be forewarned to be aware of your belongings as pickpockets are not uncommon.

Train

The train system can be considered the oldest and the newest form of transport for Malaysians. This is because Malaysia has a long history of trains ever since the first tracks were laid in 1885. From there on, the railway was a major transport tool for Malaysians who wished to travel the breadth of the country from Perlis to Johor Bahru. With the advent of the highway however, it has lost a lot of its lustre.

The KL metro rail system was established in the 1990’s and has become a major transport system for urbanites. It is very well linked and the trains and coaches are well maintained.

If you wish to move about in KL, we would recommend this form of travel highly.

Taxi

Taxis are one of the most convenient ways to travel around KL by public transportation. Taxis are relatively affordable and easily available. However, the reputation of the Malaysian taxi service has been marred by the poor conduct of a number of local taxi drivers, who have been known to refuse using the meters and sometimes overcharging on the fares.

An alternative option is to use secure a ride with an e-hailing service provider.

E-Hailing

Somewhat similar to the popular e-hailing app Uber (service no longer available in Malaysia), Grab is considered to be the most efficient way to get around the major cities in Malaysia. Well maintained cars and warm welcoming drivers make your journey to your destination a little more comfortable and relaxing. 

Apart from Grab, there are other e-hailing service providers, such as MyTeksi, MyCar, Mula, EzCab, Ryde and Riding Pink (driven by women, for women only), all offering affordable fares for your commute.

Written by: Shawn, Consultant at Pathfinder Relocation Services

In line with MDEC’s continuous clients’ process improvement, we are pleased to inform you that MDEC is embarking on new services and business processes with the enhancement of the eXpats system to achieve a better process turnaround time and user experience which will ultimately serve you better.

Effective from 15^th November 2017, the new changes are as follows:

1) NEW PROCESS AND SERVICES (ICT COMPANY)

 2) NEW PROCESS (MSC COMPANY)

Based on positive feedback and requests from the clients, MDEC will expand its expatriate services by including the endorsement of the application process.

The new processes will include the approval from both MDEC and Immigration Department of Malaysia (IDM) with SLA of seven (7) working days and endorsement of passes by IDM with SLA of two (2) working days. The SLA for company assessment will remain unchanged.

The above SLA can be achieved if MDEC receives the upmost cooperation in STRICTLY fulfilling all Immigration requirements and submitting COMPLETE documentation prior to approval.

In this new process, any incomplete application will be returned to the company for the next course of action. The above SLA will be applied once we received the complete returned documentation.

3) ONLINE PAYMENT

For all MDEC charges and IDM fees, the payment will only be available via ONLINE MODE. Hence, the bank draft/banker’s cheque/cashier order is no longer accepted.

4) NEW WEBSITE

Checkout MDEC newly enhanced website with better user experience and updated information at www.expats.com.my

5) REVISED MDEC CHARGES

With the advent of new services and continuous enhancement on eXpats system, MDEC is revising the charges to the following structure:

ICT COMPANY

SERVICES (NEW AND RENEWAL)	TOTAL PAYABLE, (inclusive of 6% GST)
EMPLOYMENT PASS (EP) (inclusive services of TRANSFER OF ENDORSEMENT (TOE) AND CANCELLATION OF PASSES) Note: Duration up to three (3) years	RM2,968.00
DEPENDANT PASS (DP) and SOCIAL VISIT PASS	RM530.0
AMENDMENT OF APPROVAL LETTER	RM106.00

MSC COMPANY

SERVICES (NEW AND RENEWAL)	TOTAL PAYABLE, (inclusive of 6% GST)
EMPLOYMENT PASS (EP) (inclusive services of TRANSFER OF ENDORSEMENT (TOE) AND CANCELLATION OF PASSES)   Note: Duration up to three (3) years	RM2,120.00
DEPENDANT PASS (DP) and SOCIAL VISIT PASS	RM530.0
AMENDMENT OF APPROVAL LETTER	RM106.00

The payment of the above charges are to be paid prior to application submission and it is non-refundable. We thank you for your continuous support and hope to serve you better in the future.

The Golden Chersonese was the term used by ancient Greek and Roman geographers for peninsular Malaysia, and over the years, the gold has been refined with the immersing of various cultures, religions, races, and even languages.

Being a major transit sea-way through the Straits of Malacca, there was an intermingling of languages with Sanskrit, Tamil, Dutch, Portuguese, English, Arabic, Hokkien, and Hindi, which coincidentally, is what the national language of Malaysia (Malay) is made up from.

Malay

Malay, or known officially in Malaysia as Bahasa Malaysia, is a major language in the Southeast Asian region and has over 250 million speakers. It has official status in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia, and is also a major language in eastern Thailand, East Timor, & Cocos (Keeling) Island.

Though not used often in the business environment, learning Malay will help you assimilate into the local culture as locals will appreciate your efforts in trying to speak to them in their local language and may open a few doors to you personally or even professionally. This is true especially in the rural areas of Malaysia or even Indonesia where those who understand English are severely limited. Do note that most road signs and public signboards are in Malay so learning simple Malay can assist you greatly when you are driving or seeking directions.

Mandarin

As a major language not only for Malaysian Chinese but also growing in the international sphere, Mandarin is spoken and/or understood by 93% of ethnic Chinese families in Malaysia and there is a growing number of non-Malaysian Chinese who are beginning to take up the language due to the influence of Chinese Medium schools in Malaysia. Pop culture also plays a role due to major Taiwan artistes and movies.

Tamil

Most of the Indian migrants to Malaysia in the 19^th and 20^th centuries were mainly from south India with Tamil being the major language from that area. Most Malaysian Indians speak and understand the language with again pop culture being a major influence especially Tamil cinema from India. There are over 500 Tamil medium schools in Malaysia but the younger generation has started to shift to English and Malay in recent years.

Manglish

No, the above is not a typo. Manglish or Mangled English is An English-based creole spoken in Malaysia with English, Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, Tamil, and a few other Asian languages blended together.

Manglish is closely related to Singlish which is the creole spoken in Singapore and can a source of confusion and curiosity especially for those unfamiliar to it.

Below is a fun comparison that can help you understand Manglish better:

Manglish	English	Example
Mat Salleh	Caucasian	He is a Mat Salleh from the UK
Fuyoh	To express astonishment	Fuyoh! That’s an awesome picture!
Half-past six	Below average	It was a half-past six job.
Syiok!	Satisfaction / Delicious	Syiok-lah this durian!
Gostan	To reverse	Be careful when you gostan your car ok?
Lah	Slang. Malaysian/ Singaporean colloqial language. A suffix to place emphasis on the sentence/word before	A: How are you? B: I’m okay lah.
Where got	Used as a literal translation from the Malay word ‘ada’	Where got? (To deny something, as in Malay “Mana ada?”)
One	Used as an emphasis at the end of a sentence.	A: Do you think it can be done? B: Sure can one.
Can (or not)	To denotes possibility	I wanna go shopping, can or not?
Boss	A common form of address, particularly in eateries	Boss, teh tarik one.
Uncle/auntie	An informal but respectful term for someone elderly	Good morning uncle.

Written by: Jeremy, Relocation Consultant at Pathfinder Relocation Services

Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) has informed that the issuance of i-Kad has been CEASED effective 17 July 2019.

Therefore, the issuance of i-Kad is no longer available for all eligible expatriates until further notice.

Shopping centres – they are a dime a dozen and honestly, no matter which part of the globe you are on, there is really no difference in the forms and functions of each one. Let us take you on an adventure to discover the rare gems of the Malaysian shopping scene. From trinkets to home brands, these shops will definitely brighten your day.

Social Media and Online

Facebook is a great tool to find expat communities in Malaysia. You can exchange ideas, experiences, and shopaholics, advise on which shops offer great deals and items that are of great interest to fellow expatriates.

You may even find posts from those who are leaving the country and offering their pre-loved items at great prices. Two of the better known Facebook groups are KL Expats for Sale, Advice and Recommendations https://www.facebook.com/groups/604596279595630/?fref=ts & Expat Parents in and around Mont’ Kiara https://www.facebook.com/groups/424312424288892/?fref=ts.

Another good website to visit is www.malaysia.alloexpat.com/marketplace/classifieds/ that has an active community of expats. You can find great deals on pre-loved items.

Lasting Impressions

Located in Petaling Jaya, Bangsar Baru and also Jalan Ampang, walking into this unique furniture shop is like walking back in time to the Ming Dynasty!

A mix of antique and beautifully crafted reproductions of Chinese furniture, everything is crafted in precise detail and quality. Established in 1991, this shop is a must-visit (and buy) if you do appreciate Chinese art and craftsmanship.

http://lasting-impressions.com.my/

Ambiance

Sticking to the Orient, this shop focuses on more modern Oriental decorative items. Each item is personally handpicked by owner Jim Moore.

With shops located in the expatriate enclaves of Bangsar, Mont Kiara & Ampang, it will be easy to add that Oriental touch to your home by purchasing one of their pieces.

http://designskoop.com/retailer/ambiance/

Peter Hoe Evolution & Beyond

Located right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, for 25 years this gem has been carving out Malaysian and Southeast Asian inspired trinkets, from placemats to small pouches and a varied assortment of homewares. Designed by Peter Hoe himself, you will definitely be in awe of a smorgasbord of colours and textures.

Ah yes, it is also a highly regarded restaurant serving a variety of sumptuous delicacies like quiches, pastas and cakes. What better way to round up your shopping experience than by having a tasty meal to round it off.

http://www.kuala-lumpur.ws/magazine/peter-hoe-beyond.htm

Ben’s Independent Grocer (B.I.G)

Finding it hard to look for your home brand? Then look no further as B.I.G. will definitely have it!

What marks B.I.G. differently from other grocery stores is that if you are unable to find any brand or items, you can place an order with them and they will do their best to source for it.

Located in Solaris Dutamas & Damansara Heights, you can be rest assured that your cooking experience will not be undone by missed ingredients.http://thebiggroup.co/BIG/?p=home

Written by: Jeremy, Relocation Consultant at Pathfinder Relocation Services