Malaysia Travel Safety

Precautions

Try to limit the number of valuables you carry, wear your purse facing away from the street and do not put the strap over your shoulder or wrap it around your arm. Ensure that your personal belongings and passports and other travel documents are secure at all times. Do not leave valuables unattended in vehicles. Be particularly cautious at bars or clubs because drink spiking occurs. Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances, as the items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Road safety

Bus accidents have occurred on long-distance tour buses, particularly at night. Choose a reputable tour company and avoid overnight routes. Road conditions and road safety can vary greatly throughout the country. Signage is in the local language. In some remote areas, there may be a lack of guard rails. Be extra cautious when driving in the rain as your visibility may be impaired. Aggressive driving habits by motorcyclists, including driving between vehicles, may pose a risk to foreign drivers who may not be accustomed to these driving techniques.

Marine transportation

Boat accidents occur. Do not board a vessel that appears to be overloaded or in poor condition.

Taxis

Take registered airport taxis only, before leaving the customs and arrivals hall, obtain a coupon from the airport taxi stand near the exit. Touts at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, including at the KLIA2 terminal, attempt to get travellers to take their "taxi" into town. Several incidents of robbery and/or assault have occurred, as well as gross overcharges by such individuals. Many taxi drivers will often refuse to use the meter even though it is illegal not to use the meter. You should either look for another taxi or agree on a rate before entering the taxi. If possible, book taxis by phone. Use a taxi desk or a trusted application on a smartphone, and confirm that the identity of the driver matches that of the photo in the dashboard and seatback.

Women's safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse. Avoid dark or non-tourist areas at night. Instead try to be around larger crowds, whether they are fellow tourists or local citizens. In addition, don't flash money or valuables in public. Doing so may make you a potential victim of criminal activity.

Scams

Scam artists operate in Malaysia. Male travellers, usually alone, have been approached in public places with invitations to participate in card games offering attractive opportunities for winning large amounts of money. Victims have lost thousands of dollars before realizing they were being scammed. Companies have also been the target of scams. Scammers will often pose as representatives from phony loan companies and fabricate documents, emails and receipts to appear legitimate. They then ask for up-front payments in order to facilitate the fake loans. Do not enter into agreements without conducting appropriate research. There are reports of travellers encountering serious problems after responding to advertisements to do volunteer work with some adventure or environmental organizations. Internet dating and other financial scams are common. Credit cards should be safeguarded at all times as theft, fraud and skimming does occur. Credit card magnetic strips have been duplicated, even in international hotels. Swiping your own card may not always be possible. Pay careful attention when others are handling your card during payment processing. Scams involving debit cards also occur. Before using your card, carefully inspect the automated teller machine to ensure that it has not been tampered with.

Crime

Violent crime against foreigners is not common. Petty crime, however, is prevalent, especially in tourist areas and at the airport. Snatch-and-grab incidents against tourists occur. Thieves on motorcycles frequently grab bags and other valuables from pedestrians, often resulting in injury. Women walking alone or with children are common targets.

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism in Malaysia, including in Kuala Lumpur. Terrorist targets could include government buildings, places of worship, schools, transportation hubs and public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels, and sites frequented by foreigners. Be aware of your surroundings at all times in public places. Stay at hotels that have robust security measures, however, keep in mind that even the most secure locations cannot be considered completely free of risk.

Culture

Malaysian customs, laws and regulations adhere closely to Islamic practices and beliefs. Exercise common sense and discretion in dress and behaviour. Dress conservatively - for women: knee-length or longer dresses and long sleeves are preferable, women should avoid clothing that could be construed as revealing, such as miniskirts, shorts and sleeveless or low-cut (front or back) blouses and tops, men: should not wear shorts outside tourist areas. Respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities. Overt public displays of intimate affection are frowned upon in Malaysian culture. During the lunar month of Ramadan, use discretion when drinking, eating, and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset.

LGBT

Homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia and punishable under federal law, and in some states, shari'a law. You should avoid any behaviour which could attract unwanted attention, including public displays of affection. Openly gay and lesbian support groups exist.

Illegal or restricted activities

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Possession of as little as 15 grams of some prohibited substances will be considered trafficking, which carries a mandatory death penalty.

Driving

Valid driver's licenses are valid in Malaysia and can be used locally for a period of three months. After this time, you can either drive with an International Driving Permit, or apply for a Malaysian driver's license at a certified driving institute. Seat belts are mandatory. Penalties for drinking and driving are severe. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%. Convicted offenders can expect fines or imprisonment and could have their driver's licence suspended or revoked. The use of cellular phones while driving is prohibited. It is common to receive on the spot fines for disobeying traffic laws.