City Ville Guide

1 - Political Status
The Malaysian Federation is an elective constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary regime.

The power is held by the Prime Minister, Mr Datuk Seri Mahathirbin Mohamad (since 18th July 1981).

Every 5 years a King is elected among the nine sultans of the 13 states which make up the federation. The 4 states which do not have a sultan are ruled by a governor, governors are not eligible for kingship. The King has only a symbolic power. Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah was chosen as King in 1999.

The constitution dates from 31st August 1957 and was modified on 3rd March 1971. The Chamber of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) is made up of 192 members who are elected by general election. There are 70 members in the Senate (Dewan Negara), 30 of whom are elected by the local state assemblies and 40 are appointed by the King.

The States :
Perlis, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Salangor, Malacca, Johor, Nerger Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu, Sarawak and Sabah.

Historical outline :
The region has always been a hub where Chinese, Indian and Islamic civilizations met. In the 13th and 14th centuries it was influenced by Thailand, Java and Islam. In 1419 the Prince of Malacca became a Muslim and took the title of Sultan. The apogee was reached under Mansur Shah (1459-1477) and Alu ud-Din Riayat Shah (1477-1488).
In 1511 Malacca fell to the Portuguese
1641 : Malacca was taken over by the Dutch
1795 : Malacca was taken over by the English
17th and 18th centuries : Malaysian prosperity attracted immigrants from China
1819 : The British settled
1895 : A Malaysian federation was created
The English developed the the tin and rubber industries
1942-45 : Japanese occupation
1945 : end of the Japanese occupation and return of the English
1948-60 : Revolt for independence
1957 : Independence of the 11 states of the Malaysian Federation
16.09.1963 : Creation of Malaysia (the Malaysian peninsular, Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo, making up the last two states of the federation)
1965 : Singapore leaves the Federation and becomes independent
18th July 1981 : Mr Mahathir Mohamad wins the legislative elections and becomes Prime Minister
19.01.1993 : the Prime Minister, Mr Mahathir Mohamad (who was re-elected in November 1994) put an end to some of the prerogatives which had been held by the sultans of the Federation
23rd September 1999 : Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah is elected King.

2 - Geographical situation
Malaysia is made up of :
- mainland Malaysia (131,598 sq.kms.) which is on the end of the Thailandese peninsula (11 states). The capital Kuala Lumpur is here, and nearly 83% of the population live in this part of Malaysia.
- Eastern Malaysia (197,951 sq.kms) on the island of Borneo, made up of the states of Sarawak and Sabah. 17% of the population live here.

The total surface of the country is 329,549 km² .

Malaysia is bounded by : 160 kms of coastline, Brunei 381 kms, Indonesia 1782 kms, Thailand 506 kms

The Malaysian national park, which is mountainous jungle is situated in the centre of the country. It measures nearly 4,300 sq.kms.

 3 - Economy & statistics
Malaysia has successfully managed to diversify its economy from being mainly agricultural (which made up 70% of its exports in 1980) to a manufacturing industrial economy which now provides 80% of its exports, particularly in the sectors of electronics and car manufacturing.

Thanks to an expansionist budgetary policy and to an ambitious technological developement, Malaysia can show a very decent economic growth rate, in contrast to the major recession in 1998. Its external financial situation is good, the country is not overburdened with debts and the financial sector is being reorganized after a banking crisis due to a overdrawing on local currency.

The rate of growth has been maintained by the renewal in household consumption (10%) and more particularly by a strong revival in exports and the hike in the price of petrol which the country exports. The 2001 budget is aimed at stimulating growth. A strong growth rate is absolutely indispensible to attain 'Vision 2020' : the Prime Minister has decided that Malaysia will be a developed country by 2020.

A vast programme of major works has been undertaken : giant towers, a huge railway station, new towns like Cyberjaya and Putrajaya, the new administrative capital of the country which should unblock Kuala Lumpur, the modernizing and extending of the infrastructures : roads, undergrounds, trains, airports, ports...These creations are modernizing the country and strikingly symbolize the government's priorities.

The return of the coalition government to power in the November 1999 elections should keep a certain stability, but the political situation is continually deteriorating. The legislative elections illustrate the ethnical focalization of votes. Social disparities are growing, in spite of a policy of volontary discrimination in favour of Bumiputras (Malaysians by birth) with the danger of Islamic fundamentalists exploiting the situation. The atmosphere has been made even more inflamatory by the arrest of several leaders of the opposition in the spring of 2000.

These undercurrents could put off foreign investors, who were already 25% less in 1999, and who are necessary to consolidate the recovery of the economy. (Foreign investors are also presently more interested in the opening of the Chinese market.) However, even if private short term investment and the stock market reflect a certain reserve, during 2000 there was an obvious renewal in direct foreign investment proposals submitted to the authorities for long term projects. Among them 626 have been approved for a sum amounting to 19.8 billion ringgits (5.2 billion dollars).

Main Economic Indicators

	1997	1998	1999	2000
economic growth (%)	7.5	-7.5	5.8	7.2
inflation (%)	2.7	5.3	2.9	3.4
budgetary balance/GDP(%)	3.7	-1.1	-4.9	-4.4
unemployment (%)	2.5	-	-	-
interest rate (%)	7.78	8.51	4.12	-
exports (billions $)	77.7	71.9	80.1	87.7
imports (billions $)	73.7	54.2	61	71.2
balance of trade (billions $)	4.0	17.7	19.1	16.5
current balance (billions $)	-5.0	9.2	10.6	8.6
external debt (billions $)	41.5	36.9	37.1	38.0
debt charges/exports (%)	6.3	8.8	7.2	7.2

General information

Gross National Product 1999	76.69 billion $
GNP per capita	3380 dollars
Purchasing power parity (PPP)	8600 dollars
Growth GNP 1990-1997	+5.8% per capita per annum
Households with PPP +$30000pa	450 000 = 10%
Households with PPP +$15000pa	1 860 000 = 42%
Households with PPP -$5000 pa	570 000 = 13%
Aid 1998	-0.781 billion $
Foreign investment 1998	5 billion $
Tourist revenues 1998	2.456 billion $

The market is fairly open to foreign investment. Only sectors such as car manufacturing, iron and steel, chemicals, the wood industry, rubber and electrical equipment are more particularly protected. The average customs duty overall is 7.8% and there are few other obstacles. French investors represent 1.65% of the market.
Imports come from the United States (17.5%), Japan (17.6%), the European Union (11%) (of which Germany 3.5%) and Asia (apart from Japan) (42.4%).

The restructuration of companies is slow. The fact that money is injected into the large companies which are in financial difficulty does not encourage them to make changes (Renong : the group had their infrastructure projects which were not profitable nationalized, Proton, Malaysia Airlines).

Inflation could start again with the 33% increase in the rates of public transport and the announced discontinuance of subventionning the price of petrol.

The government will have to face up to a slow down in American orders (its exports in the domain of technology and information make up 45% of total exports), to the growing competition of its neighbours who are also very active in the Asia Free Trade Area, and to China which is preparing to enter the World Trade Organization.
27% of the working population are employed in agriculture, 23% in industry and 50% in services.
Division of the GDP by activity sector : 13.2% comes from agriculture, 28.7% from industry, 14.9% from mining and 43.3% from services.
There is a lack of qualified labour in the country, which is worrying for the future.
(sources : Le MOCI, Le Monde, Le nouvel Observateur)

 4 - Agriculture
Malaysia has become mainly an industrial economy, but agriculture is still very important, particularly in the products for export - the country's plantations still furnish the world markets with palm oil and rubber.

Malaysia is the third biggest producer of rubber in the world. It united with Thailand to dismantle the world association of rubber exporting countries, hoping to improve its profit margin with an independent commercial policy.

Agriculture
(in millions of tons, head, m³ for timber)

Production	1996	1997	1998	1999
wood	43.027	38.918	29.297	-
cocoa	0.120	0.106	0.090	0.100
coffee	0.010	0.010	0.010	0.010
sugar cane	1.600	1.600	1.600	1.600
maize	0.045	0.048	0.050	0.050
oranges	0.011	0.011	0.011	0.011
rice	2.228	2.120	1.934	1.934
tea	0.006	0.006	0.006	0.006
cattle	0.694	0.690	0.713	0.713
sheep	0.187	0.168	0.162	0.162
pigs	3.103	3.171	2.961	2.961
fishing	1.240	1.276	-	-

(sources : Le MOCI, Le Monde, Le nouvel Observateur)

 5 - Industries & mining
The petrol and natural gas reserves continue to ensure the wealth of the state company Petronas, whose revenues are used to financially back up sectors which are temporarily in difficulty, like the car manufacturing industry. The Petronas towers are the highest building in the world, they opened their panoramic viewing point to tourists in May 2000.
It is true that the company's main activity continues to be petrol and gas coming from the Borneo exploitations, its refining and distribution. But the company has infiltrated into all the sectors of the economy and the daily life in the country. It is the only company in Malaysia to be among the top 500 companies in the world according to the American magazine Fortune. According to information published by Petronas, the company made a turnover of 11.1 billion US dollars on 31st March 1999 and profits, before tax, of 3.1 billion. In the past Petronas has come to the help of the Bumiputra Bank twice and more recently to the help of Proton, the car manufacturer. The group bought 29% of the Malaysian International Shipping Corp. Petronas is also the biggest real estate developer in Malaysia. It advanced the necessary funds to build Putrajaya, the administrative capital situated at 50 kms out of KL, as well as KLCC, the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, the huge new shopping mall in the city.

Other production :
It is to be noted that Malaysia is the 8th biggest producer of tin in the world. In 1999 it produced 6,000 tons.
With a new dam in Sarawak, which should produced 15 billion kWh, hydroelectricity is a promising sector.

Mining
(in millions of tons, apart from natural gas in billions of m3 and silver in tons)

Production	1996	1997	1998	1999
silver	10	10	7	7
bauxite	0.216	0.261	0.240	0.250
tin	0.005	0.005	0.006	0.006
iron	0.324	0.282	0.360	0.425
natural gas	34.8	34.8	40.7	43.0
lignite	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
petrol	35.1	36.7	35.4	35.8
gas reserves	2 400	2 258	2 839	2 839
petrol reserves	544	530	551	551

French companies in Malaysia :
STMicroelectronics : the factory employs 4,800 people
Mapa : 4 factories, 830 people, 130 million pairs of gloves produced each year,
Dragages : the design and the building of the central station in Kuala Lumpur and the warehouse annexes for KTMB, the Malaysian railways
Freyssinet : has participated in the building of over 200 bridges and several prestigious buildings,
Alstom : a thermic power station in Lumut and an electric power station on the artificial island of Manjung,Alcatel : built the telephone exchanges in Penang
Technip : specializes in hydrocarburate engineering
Carrefour : six hypermarkets
Gerflor : floor coverings
Promosol : manufactures its welding cream for electronic components
Cogifer : provides and assembles switching gear for the railways
Team Partners : sells computer programmes for blood transfusion to hospitals
Lafarge : has 8 roof tile factories and 3 paving stone factories, 4 cement factories and 34 concrete factories OTV, a subsidiary of Vivendi : specializes in the engineering side of water factories
Suez-Lyonnaise : is present in the domains of energy, urban cleanliness and water distribution.

6 - Other sectors

With an under-evaluated currency and a large American demand, the main exporting sectors (electronics and electricity) have enormously profited from the situation.
The electronic sector in Malaysia has boomed. Since 1970 the number of companies in the sector has grown from 4 companies with 577 employees to over 900 companies with 381,000 employees in 1999.
As the leading subcontractor in the world electronics market, the Malaysian industry quickly recovered from the Asian crisis in 1997 and 1998. Electrical and electronic components represent 50% of the country's total exports, and Malaysia produces 10% of the televisions assembled in the world. These operations are either managed from the multinational companies home countries (Europe, America, Japan), or from their regional headquarters in Singapore.

Over the last ten years the government has considerably improved the road and air transport network and simplified the customs operations to shorten the trading cycle.

7 - Population
There are 22,180,000 inhabitants, 1.42 million of whom live in the capital. The population density is 68 inhabitants per square kilometer.
0-14 year olds : 34.78%
15-64 year olds : 61.20%
65 years and over : 4.02%

Population of working age (15-65) : 13 million, 9 million of whom are working (78% in industry and services).

Life expectancy : 72.04 years
Urban population : 55.92%

Level of development (latest available statistics)

demographic growth 1997-2015 (%) : +1.6
infant mortality (%) : 1.1
energy consumption per capita TOE : 1.95
population without drinking water (% pop) : 22
population without sanitary installations (% pop) : 6
number of doctors per 1000 inhabitants : 0.4
telephone lines per 1000 inhabitants : 195
mobile phones per 1000 inhabitants : 113
private cars per 1000 inhabitants : 154
n° of computers per 1000 inhabitants : 46.1
adult illiteracy (%) : 14
secondary schooling/age group (%) : 61
university graduates/age group (%) : 11

Ethnic composition :
- 58 % Malays,
- 26% Chinese,
- 7 % Indians,
Pure Malays are called Bumiputras.

 
8 - Language
Languages spoken are Malaysian (Bahasa), English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamul as well as various others.
9 - Religion
Muslims make up nearly half the Malaysian population (48%) with Buddhists (17%) and Taoists (12%) (Chinese), Hindus (7%) (Indians) and Christians (7%).
 10 - Weights, measures & voltage
Electrical current is 220 V, the plugs have three prongs, British standard.
The televisions are PAL system.
11 - Money
The currency is the Ringgit (MYR)
1 ringitt = 100 sen

1 MYR = 2.03 FF (31/05/2001).
1 euro = 3.3516 MYR

All international credit cards are generally accepted.

Exchange control : On 1st September 1998 the Malaysian Central Bank set up a series of measures to control the short term capital flow and the exchange rate of the ringgit, in order to "get back the independence of the currency and isolate the Malaysian economy from future difficulties in the world economy and the financial environment". The 2nd September 1998 the exchange rate of the dollar was fixed to the ringgit at 3.80 MYR per dollar, which gave it the chance to profit from a very competitive rate.
12 - Main towns
The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, with a population of 1,420,000 inhabitants. More than 60% of the inhabitants are Chinese and there are typical districts surrounding the modern shopping centre and the administrative centre. Known as KL, Kuala Lumpur is the federal capital of one of the most modern countries in South East Asia. Malaysia is a multiracial country, and KL is a pluri-cultural city which cultivates tolerance.
A century ago, the "swampy estuary" (a literal translation of Kuala Lumpur) was only a mining outpost, a strategic point for the tin trade. Today this city is an important economic centre whose prosperity is displayed in its wide avenues and its futuristic glass towers. It is proud to own the highest skyscrapers in the world : the Petronas twin towers which rise up like two arrows to a height of 452 meters. It must also be mentionned that KL has kept its large green spaces planted by the British, which give a garden city feel to the town. Around the Mas Jid Ja Me square in front of the station is where the neo-Moorish buildings are centred, which made up the colonial KL. The charm of the town is in its contrasts : old Victorian buildings, Hindu temples, ultra-modern mosques and the busy markets in Chinatown. KL is really clean and really safe and has kept a human dimension. The cyclo-pousse is still the best way to get around its labyrinth of narrow streets.

Georgetown is the capital of the island of Penang. It is the third biggest town in Malaysia with over
500,000 inhabitants. Georgetown is one of the last towns in Asia to have kept an eclectic architecture, where the Anglo-Indian influences are mixed in with Asian and Arab styles. The town is characterized by its rows of ancient houses in arcades, "shophouses", decorated with multicoloured tiles. The visitor is always tantalized by the smells of curry and jasmin from Little India, the sight of real Chinese calligraphic artists, and the sound of the call to prayer from the mosque for the Malaysian community. More than 60% of the local population is Chinese. It is the second biggest port in Malaysia and one of the industrial centres specialized in the working of tin.

Kangar, capital of the state of Perlis,
Alor Setar, capital of the state of Kedah
Ipoh, Taiping and Teluk Intan in the state of Perak,
Shah Alam in Salangor,
Seremban in Negeri Sembilan,
the town of Malacca in the state of Malacca,
Johor Baharu and Muar in Johor,
Kuantan in Pahang
Kuala Terngganu in Terengganu,
Kota Baharu in Kelantan
Kuching, Sibu and Miri in Sarawak
Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah.

13 - Climate
The Malaysian climate is hot and humid all the year round. Be warned, the heavy heat can be oppressive in the first days after arriving in the country. Most of the hotels, restaurants, shops and offices are airconditionned in the bigger towns.
The towns tend to be more animated in the evening and the night when it is cooler.
The only place it is cooler is in the mountains where the evenings are cool and the nights can even be cold.

The sea temperature is always very warm.
The best period to travel in the country is from the beginning of June to the end of September. It is the season with the least rain and the most sun, especially on the east coast and in eastern Malaysia. Malaysia is a peninsula with a mountain range in the middle, so the rainy season does not take place at the same time on the east coast and on the west coast. If you plan to go to the west coast, the best period is from December to March or June and July.

The biggest storms which are sometimes accompanied by violent winds known as 'Sumatra blows' take place between August and November.

Each year the Malaysian national park is closed from 15th November to 15th January because of the rains.
In eastern Malaysia, avoid going in the months from December to February when Sabah and Sarawak get torrential rains which cut off all communications. In these regions, unlike in Kuala Lumpur, it most often rains at night and in the morning.

Temperature averages (max/min) :

........................................J .........F .........M ........A .........M ........J .........J .........A .........S .........O .........N ..........D

Kota Bharu ..............29/22 ...30/22 ..31/23 ..32/23 ...32/24 ..32/23 ..32/23 ..32/23 ..31/23 ..31/23 ...29/23 ...28/23

Kuala-Lumpur .........32/22 ...33/22 ..33/23 ..33/23 ...33/23 ..33/23 ..32/22 ..32/23 ..32/22 ..32/23 ...32/23 ...32/22

Kurching (Sarawak) 29/22 ..30/22 ...31/23 ..32/23 ...32/23 ..33/23 ..32/22 ..33/22 ..32/22 ..32/23 ..31/22 ...31/22

Mersing ....................28/22 ...29/23 ...30/23 ..31/23 ...31/23 ..31/23 ..31/22 ..31/22 ..31/22 ..31/22 ..30/22 ...28/23

Penang ......................32/23 ...33/23 ...33/23.. 33/24 ...32/23 ..32/23 ..32/23 ..32/23 ..31/23 ..32/23 ..31/23 ...32/23

Sandakan (Sabah) ...29/23 ...30/23 ...31/24 ...32/24 ..32/24 ..32/24 ..32/24 ..32/24 ..32/24 ..31/24 ..31/24 ...30/23

Sea temperatures (monthly average) :

 ...................J.......F.......M.......A.......M.......J.......J.......A.......S.......O.......N.......D

Mersing ...26 .... 27.... 28 .... 28 ..... 28 .... 28 ... 28 .... 28 .... 27 .... 28 ....28 .... 27

Penang .....27 ....27 .....28 .....28 .....28 .....28 .....28 .....27 .....27 ....27 ....27 .....27

Sandakan .27 ....27 .....28 .....28 .....29 .....29 .....28 .....28 .....28 ....28 ....28 .....27
14 - Insects & animals
There are mosquitoes all year round on the coast and in regions where there is thick vegetation.
In the forest be careful for leeches. It is advisable to wear long trousers to protect your ankles.

15 - Working in the country

Before leaving
You should take English lessons, or improve your level. The quality of job you could aspire to may depend on how well you speak the language.

With a French or international company
If your employer is a French or international company you don't have to worry about formalities. Usually the administrative services deal with all the formalities concerning the expatriate staff. Unless you are the only representative of your company in the country (sales representative, or in charge of a liaising office ...), in this case you will have to deal with the formalities yourself.

Preparing for your departure and looking for a job :
You can start searching for information by writing to French associations established in the country, trade commissions, commercial services of foreign banks in France and French banks abroad.
The French consulate usually has a service dealing with jobs and training, student grants and reinsertion in France, and they can put you in touch with local enterprises who are willing to accept French personnel.
 (See also in the Practical Guide for the Expatriate).

The French Chamber of Commerce also offers information about the job market, the most dynamic sectors of the economy, and edits a bulletin for French companies and local members. You could publish a job application in this bulletin.
The Trade Commission in Malaysia, or the CFCE in Paris can furnish you with a list of French companies established in Malaysia.
Documents about the country are usually available in the cultural service of the Malaysian Embassy in Paris.
You can however prepare your trip in a more precise manner by making a personal appointment with the Franco-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce in order to complete your information and get professional advice.
While you are hunting for information you could contact companies directly by sending a spontaneous candidacy proposing your services.
The international departments of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry often have information about the country available. Directories and useful dossiers from the country can be helpful in getting information on sectors of activity and the local economic life.

Where to find job offers :
In the French press (Le Monde, Le France Soir, Figaro, Moniteur du Bâtiment,...) for French companies sending people abroad.
In the international press, in nearly all the bigger dailies there exists a page or a selection of job offers (The European, The Guardian, Vacature, Coriere della Sera, The Geneva Tribunal ..)
Leading recruitment bureaus in Europe, and interim companies sometimes offer international jobs.
There are several data banks specializing in job offers abroad on Internet which are easily accessible.

Writing your CV and covering letter :
Your dossier is a determining element towards being recruited, it is the first step towards obtaining an interview.
The CV should be very clear, typewritten, detailled, preferably written in English and it should be accompanied by a handwritten covering letter. Certain countries do not accord much importance to handwriting, but it is advisable to write the letter by hand whichever country it is addressed to.
If the company is French or the subsidiary of a French company, the CV and the covering letter should still be written in the language of the country.
Don't forget to attach a recent photo, preferably one where you are smiling.
Your CV should be detailled, and have the addresses and phone numbers of ex-employers on it so that the company can easily verify the main points of your candidacy. This can save you from sending a pile of photocopies and documents with it. You can always present these documents later during an interview if necessary.

If you are thinking of sending a false CV, you should know that a study from the Florian Mantione Institute shows that 45% of the employers check up on CVs, that 34% of the candidates are eliminated during this verification and that 60% of the verifications are made with the previous employer.
Whatever your reasons for 'adapting' your CV to suit the ad, be warned that it won't help you during the interview and could even cause you prejudice.

The questions to ask yourself before an expatriation :
What exactly is the job?
What is the length of the contract?
Is it for the whole family or with bachelor conditions?
What kind of life will you have locally?
Have you thought about when you get back, how you will manage financially to fit in again?
Do you have the necessaries qualities to be an expatriate?

Qualities you need to succeed :
emotional stability (so you can react quickly in any situation)
autonomy (you can make decisions on your own in any circumstance)
being mobile and being available for your job, being able to relocate quickly
being good at meeting people (don't forget that the expatriate is also an ambassador for his country whether in his professional or his social life.
being adaptable (you can easily adapt to different cultures, climates and life styles. )
being able to accept and understand different cultures and cultural differences
tolerance and respect of other people's way of life and way of living should be a natural part of your character.

Your family and recruiting :
Your partner should have the same ambitions as you. It is often an important factor in choosing an expatriate.
In fact some recruitment bureaus or big firms when they are recruiting, specially for long term projects, insist on having an interview with the wife to check that there are no problems in the couple which could get worse abroad and maybe disturb the mission.
Companies often propose that the whole family goes together so that a good family balance is kept.

During the recruiting :
Punctuality and precision are appreciated everywhere. Be on time for your appointments.
Be well dressed for your interview, whatever kind of job you are trying for. Your appearance will weigh with the interviewer.
First interviews are often very short but can last several hours if your candidacy is interesting, depending on the post offered, and if you have to do any psychotechnical (graphological analysis) or aptitude tests.
Be careful not to appear pretentious about your know-how and don't exaggerate your professional competence.
Don't forget that nowadays the job market is a chronic problem nearly all over the world, so take an interview appointment seriously, jobs are not easy to come by.
Emphasize your real competence, your ease of adaption, your mobility, your ability to work in a team, your readiness to pool your experience.

The company and the expatriate :
A lot of countries abroad like to have, and to show that they have, expatriates on their staff.
International personnel often bring in experience and knowledge which can be very advantageous for a company.

Salaries - Salary requirements :
If the candidate doesn't know the prospective country, it isn't always easy to negotiate a salary, especially if the amount has already been mentionned on the ad.
However, there is nothing to stop you from showing your previous salary and from discussing the salary offered. The recruiting agent or the employer may appreciate knowing what for you is the minimum.
It is often difficult to compare salaries with European ones.
The standard of living that you find abroad is not always similar to the one you know in Europe and sometimes if the salary is much higher you will find that the cost of living is also.
This is one of the reasons, and there are several, including social security conditions, why it is better to go abroad with a European company.
French companies sending people overseas budget for differences in the cost of living. They can reassure the expatriate that his purchasing power will at least be the same as in France.
The 'basic French salary' can be paid either in France or abroad, it is usually a choice, and an allowance is paid for living expenses (accomodation, food,...) This compensation is based on the cost of living in the country.

Taxes
(see the page in the expatriate guide)
If you are employed locally you will have to pay taxes in the country.
If you have an international contract your salary can be negotiated free of taxes.
In some countries income tax is deducted at source by the company.

Accomodation - company car - other fringe benefits :
It is nearly impossible to negotiate for a company house if you are employed locally. Getting a car depends on your job and your level in the company.
In a local company it will be very difficult to negotiate a paid return ticket to France every year.
There again, if you are an expatriate working for a French company you will get fringe benefits, a house, car, travel allowance, return flights to France ...
Usually international contracts give 15 days leave in France every 3 months.

Working conditions :
These are the local ones with all the attenuating advantages and disadvantages if you are working for a local company.
The expatriate is often considered as an immigrant and has to deal himself with the local formalities.

On the administrative side the expatriate does not have to worry about the formalities concerning the police, customs, immigration, income tax, visa or consular declaration. French or European companies abroad always have an administrative department which completes all the formalities for its personnel and deals with any problems which could arise.

Foreign companies remain subject to the laws of the country in which they are working.

The attitude towards the foreign investor :
Conscious of the importance of foreign investment in the industrial developement of the country, it is encouraged by the government on condition that it brings visible advantages to the country. The MIDA determines the conditions of foreign participation in the industrial implantations. Since 31st July 1998, foreign participation can go over the old ceiling of 30% and can even go up to 100% without an obligation to export.

Means of access to the market :
In 1998 Malaysia came 22nd among world importers, thanks to a government policy on imports which is very liberal. Most of the merchandise is imported without any special restrictions on an "Open General Licence".
The GATT and the WTO policies and those of the AFTA (Asian Free Trade Area) have intensified the Malaysian tendency to cut customs duties. The average rate overall comes to 7.8% and there are very few other obstacles. Imports which had to be paid for immediately up until 1998, can now be covered by export credit even for big public buyers (Tenaga, Telekom Malaysia, Petronas).
16 - Formalities
A passport which is still valid for at least six months after the return date. No visa for a stay under three months.

17 - Health
No vaccination is obligatory to enter the country, unless you come from a zone infected with yellow fever, in which case you must be vaccinated. It is however recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
There is a risk of malaria in areas under 1,700 meters altitude. The coast and the urban zones are protected, except in the state of Sabah. There is a noted resistance to Nivaquine.
If you should have to be hospitalized, we recommend the Gleneagles Medical Centre (a clinic)
Tel 00 60 3 457 13 00.

18 - Transport
Airline companies :
Malaysian Airlines has three direct flights a week from Paris to Kuala Lumpur (approx. 12 hrs flight) and does 50 flights a week from all over Europe.
Information : 01 44 51 64 20 in Paris or 04 97 03 15 20 in Nice
Alternatives are :
Air France via Singapore
British Airways via London
Lauda Air via Vienna
Thai Airways via Bangkok
SingaporeAirlines via Singapore

Internal transport :
By air : Malaysia Airlines and its subsidiary Pelangi Air do daily flights between all the towns in the country. There are many airports throughout the country.

By rail : the national company KTM (Jl Sultan Hishamunddin, 50621 Kuala Lumpur. : (3) 2749422), runs two main lines from north to south.
If you are going to Thailand or Singapore from Kuala Lumpur it is a good idea to use the express trains.

By sea : Ferries go between the islands and the peninsula. You can also rent a yacht, you can get information about this from Sea Tours in Paris (01 47 42 48 38).
The main ports :
Penang :
- High Speed Luxury Ferry : (4) 789868
- Selesa Express : (4) 789618 ou : 789688
- Kuala Perlis Langkawi Ferry Service, Jalan Besara King Edward, 10300 Penang : (4) 625630/1

Malacca :
- Sumatra Ferry Madai Shipping, 321 A Jl Tun : (6) 240671
By road : Taxis, express bus, Trishaw, 3-wheeler cyclo-pousse.

 19 -Time differences
The time difference with France is +6 hours in summer and +7 hours in winter.
The daylight last about 12 hours all the year round.
20 - Telecommunications
Only 19% of the population have a telephone.

To phone Malaysia from France : dial 00 60 + the town code + the n° of your correspondent
Kuala Lumpur = 3
Penang = 4
Malacca = 6
To phone France from Malaysia : dial 007 33 + the n° of your correspondent.
Emergencies : 999.

21 - Airports
The main airports in Malaysia :
Since 1998 visitors arrive at the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport which is 50 kms to the south of KL.
The old airport, Subang International is 23 kms out of town (tel 3 7461014)There is a bus service to town, n° 47 which takes 45 minutes.
The Kota Kinabalu airport in Sabah is 7 kms out of town (tel 88 243617 or 244811)
The Kurching airport in Sarawak is 11 kms out of town (tel 82 454255 or 456255)
The Boskym airport of Miri in Sarawak (tel 85 34242)
The Padang Matsirat International airport is 15kms out of Kuah in Langkawi
The Batu Berendam airport is 10 kms out of Malacca (tel 6 222648)
The Bayan Lepas airport is 16 kms out of Georgetown in Penang.

 22 - Vehicle rental
Rental agencies for planes and helicopters :
- Malaysian Helicopters Service : (3) 7561177
- Pan Malaysian Air Transport : (3) 7464994
- Helicos Hornbil Skyways : (82) 455737

Taxis :
- Kuala Lumpur : (3) 2936211, (3) 7465705, (3) 7330507
- Malacca : (6) 223630
- Penang : (4) 62572

Car rental :
To rent a car you need an international driving licence. In Malaysia driving is on the left.
Avis has several agencies in Malaysia.
The telephone n° of the central reservation office : 603 242 3500
Some other agencies :
Ipoh : 05 3126586
Johor Bahru : Tropical Inn Hotel 07 2237971 Senai airport : 07 5995380
Kerteh : airport : 09 5523666
Kota Bharu : Perdana Hotel 09 7484457
Kuala Lumpur : 03 2423500 - 03 87764540 - 03 2423500
Kuantan : 09 5398768/8769
Malacca : 06 2846710
Penang : Bayan Lepas Int. Airport 04 6439633

All Avis cars are completely equipped, have done less than 15,000 kms and have an average age of 3 months. The vehicles are carefully prepared and checked between each rental using a procedure containing 7 obligatory control points. The cars are rented with a full tank.
Renting from Avis automatically means that the car passengers, renter and/or driver are covered by a third party insurance as well as an insurance covering repatriation and the immobilization of the vehicule in case of an accident.

You can reserve a car :
- from your travel agent
- from the international reservation centre at 0 820 05 05 05
- or from any Avis agency
Avis has an interactive network worldwide, a client can reserve a car instantly from anywhere in the world.

We recommend that you pay your rental using your accredited Avis card or with another credit card accepted by Avis : American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Diners.
Through a simple free membership system, Avis gives identity and/or payment cards, which are a real help for a rapid and efficient service.

REASSURING : No on-line payment, you can pay Avis directly at the agency when you return the car
RAPID : Avis has the quickest car rental reservation service on the web
ECONOMICAL : The cheapest rates on the market are available on the Avis microsite
COMPLETE : You can rent a car anywhere in the world.
The Avis network : 5000 agencies in 172 countries, is now on-line!
EFFICIENT : Find your town (you don't have to fill in the country), enter the date and click on estimate
PRACTICAL : You only have to fill in 4 boxes and you will receive an e-mail confirming the reservation.
You can even rent a vehicle at the last minute just round the corner or ... on the other side of the world.
23 - Hotels& restaurants
There are several hotels of international standard, and also several more moderately priced hotels.
Kota Kinabalu (Sabah)
Hyatt International situated in the centre of town. The nearest airport is Kota Kinabula, which is 10 kms away. The hotel has 315 rooms and 21 suites, a business service, sport and leisure facilities : pool, golf, tennis, squash, a gymnasium, diving centre, water skiing, fishing nearby.

Tanjung Aru Beach situated on the coast. A modern hotel with 230 rooms and 15 suites, a business service, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, sport and leisure facilities : gymnasium, 2 pools, 4 tennis courts.

Kuala Lumpur :
The Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur, situated in the new commercial district. A modern hotel with 545 rooms and 31 suites, a business service, 3 restaurants, 3 bars, sport and leisure facilities : pool and fitness centre

Carcosa Seri Negara. Colonial architecture, situated in a large park at the foot of the town. Rooms with TV, a business service, a restaurant, bar, sport and leisure facilities : pool, fitness centre, sauna, tennis.

Equatorial. A modern hotel with 315 rooms and suites, a business service, 4 restaurants, 3 bars, Sport and leisure facilities , pool
Kuala Lumpur Hilton, situated in the centre of town
Century Kuala Lumpur : a 4 star hotel which is really good value for money. Nice service in this hotel with its 418 rooms situated at the heart of the Golden Triangle (tel 60 3 243 9898, e-mail cenkl@jaring.y)

Shangri-La : recently renovated it is one of the most prestigious hotels in Malaysia. There are 720 rooms and a garden. (tel 60 3 232 23 88, site web www.shangri-la.com)
(See list of hotels in Useful Addresses)

Penang
Cititel Penang : a 4 star hotel with 451 spacious rooms and suites situated in the old town. It has several restaurants, one with Japanese specialities, a pool, a fitness centre and a business centre. Tel 04 370 11 88 www.cititelhotel.com

Hotel 1926 : 5 minutes out of Georgetown town centre, 96 rooms, a bar and a restaurant in a colonial ambiance. Tel 04 228 1926 Fax 04 227 79 26

Average price of a hotel room for one person : 550 Francs

Restaurants :
Kuala Lumpur
Le Lafitte : French, Shangri-La Hotel,
Bangles and Shiraz : Indian
Melaka Grill : at the Hilton.

Penang
Eden Seafood Village : on the beach
Dragon King : an uninspired decor but the food is authentic Peranakan, a mix of Malaysian and Chinese flavours.
Average price of a meal without drinks for one person : 170 Francs

.24 - Your suitcase
If you plan to stay in the mountains take a sweater, jacket and anorak. For the rest of the country take light clothing, but as it is a Muslim country (particularly on the east coast) take clothes that cover you well - no mini shorts, tight clothes or low neck dresses.
You have to take off your shoes to visit houses or religious monuments, so it is easier to have sandals or mocassins than lace up shoes. Your legs and shoulders usually have to be covered to enter a mosque.
Even in business meetings people rarely wear a jacket and tie.


25 - Information
Public holidays
1st January : New Year (except in the following states : Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu)
1st February : Federal Territory Day (in Kuala Lumpur and in Labuan)
1st May : Labour Day
2nd June : anniversary of SPB Yang Ki-Pertuan Agong
3rd June : the King's birthday
4th June : the Prophet's birthday
31st August : National Day
14th November : Deepavali
16th-17th December : Hari Raya Puasa
25th December : Christmas Day

Shopping :
Batiks, local handicrafts at the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur ; visit the 'antique road' in Malacca.
Tinware, batiks, songkets, silverwork, jade

Gastronomy :
Plenty of shellfish and fish (specially grilled), excellent Chinese and Indian cooking.
Don't hesitate to try the restaurants in the streets, they are cheap and good.

Various :
Several import companies based in Malaysia have their headquarters in Singapore, where the strategic decisions are taken. Check that the person that you are going to meet has the power to take decisions.
It is a good idea to know the origins of the person that you are talking to to avoid making mistakes. The Bumiputras hold the political power and are in charge of the administration and the army. The Chinese are omni-present in the private sector.
Petty delinquance is increasing throughout Malasia. Be careful, several declarations of fraudulent use and copies of credit cards have been made.
Access to Internet is widespread in Malaysia.

26 - Banks
Opening times : Monday to Friday 10am - 3pm. Saturdays 9.30am - 11.30am.
No French bank has a cash dispenser in Kuala Lumpur.
27 - Schools and scholarity
Malaysian level of education :
adult illiteracy : 14%
secondary schooling/age group : 61%
university graduates/age group : 11%

The French School of Kuala Lumpur : 8A Jalan Tun Ismaïl, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
(pupils : 153, 112 of whom are French)
28 - Guides
Books & films :

- « The Malaysian Spell », « The 4 Dutchmen » and 29 other novels by Somerset Maugham.
- « Le sacrilège malais » by Pierre Boule.
- « Amok » by Stefan Zweig
- « Malaisie » by Henri Fauconnier
- « The Rice »by Shah-non Ahmad
- « La Dame de Malacca » by François de Croiset
- « Fortune », « The Negro of Narcissus» by Joseph Conrad
- « The World in Passing » by Aldous Huxley
- « Bivouacs à Bornéo » by Pierre Pfeffer.

Numerous scenes from the film"Indochine", "Les pirates de Malaisie" by Enrico Guazzoni, "L'Amant"and "Anna and the King" with Jodi Foster were made in Penang.

Business guides :
available at the Librairie du Commerce International, 10 avenue d'Iéna, BP 428-16, 75769 Paris Cedex 16
librairie@cfce.fr, tel 01 40 73 34 60 (in French)

Exporter en Malaisie : French Trade Commission in Kuala Lumpur 2279415089 - 2001 155 pages
Liste des sociétés françaises implantées en Malaisie : French Trade Commission in Kuala Lumpur - CFCE E06188-99L - 1999 168 pages
Les importations de la Malaisie en 1998 - les créneux porteurs : ed CVFCE E14849-99Y - 1999 - 17 pages
Kompass Malaisie (9000 entreprises) : ed Kompass K750595 - 2000

 29 - Observations
Tourism

In Kuala Lumpur :
-the Masjid Jame mosque which dates from the end of the 19th century, and the national mosque, the Masjid Negara which can hold 8,000 worshippers
- the Chinese district of Pataling for its shopping and to see the Chan See Shu Yeun temple built in 1906. At dusk the street stalls in the main roads of the Chinese district, the Jalan Petaling and the Jalan Sultan carry out their business under the light of trembling lanterns. It is the night market, the pasar Malam.
- the National Museum with its lake and gardens
- the railway station which is in Anglo-Mongol style and the square around the station, the Mas Jid Ja Me where the neo-Moorish style buildings of colonial KL are centred.
- the panoramic view from the top of the Petronas tower
- the Batu caves, which are 13 kms out of the town, where during religious manifestations the worshippers firewalk and pierce their cheeks, tongue or chest.

In Penang :
- Chinatown and Little India, Chinese temples, temple of 'Reclining Buddha' and Klewa Road next to it
- the State Museum, for the history of the town and its peoples
- the temple of the Khoo clan and its eclectic architecture
- the ancient mosque of Aceh and Armenian Street
- the bird park

In Sarawak :
- visit the Mulu caves with the spectacular limestone formations in the famous 'Stag Cave'
- explore a 'longhouse'
- taste 'tuak' (a wine made from fermented rice) and learn to dance the 'ngajat', a traditional dance which is presented during celebrations
- shoot the rapids on the Baram river through thick jungle
- go through part of the primary forest (the oldest forest in the world) and find Orang-Utans in their natural habitat, and the calao, the fabulous bird which is the official symbol of Sarawak
- see the artisans hand weaving 'pua kumbu', which is a material reserved for special religious occasions.

- The mosque in Selango (the highest in the world)
- Portuguese, Dutch vestiges in Malacca and the Chinese district
- the Kek Lok Si temple in the suburb of Air Itam.

Trade Fairs/Congresses/Exhibitions :

Putra World Trade Center is the most important congress centre in Kuala Lumpur.
(see Useful Addresses).

 30 - Useful Addresses
Useful Addresses in France
Malaysian Embassy
2 bis, Rue de Bénouville
75116 Paris
: 01.42.97.41.71 Fax : 01.45.53.11.85

Malaysian Tourist Office
29, rue des Pyramides
75001 Paris
: 01.42.97.41.71 Fax 01 42 97 41 69
internet : www.tourism.govmy (in English)

Useful Addresses in Malaysia

French Embassy
192-196 Jl Ampang
P.O. Box 107000, 50722
Tel : 00 60 3 20535500

Tourist Board
24-27 Floor, Menara Dato’Onn
Putra Word Trade Centre
45 Jl Tun ilsmail, 50480
Tel : (3) 2935188 Fax : (3) 2935884

Tourist Office of Kota Kinabalu (TDC)
Wisma Wing On Life
1 Jl Saguntin
88000 Kota Kinabalu
Tel : (88) 24.86.98 Fax : (4) 241764

Tourist Office of Kuching (MTPB)
2nd Floor - AIA bldg
Bukit Mata Kuching
JI Song Thian Check
93100 Kuching
Tel : (82) 246442

Tourist Information Centre
Main Bazar
Tel : (82) 410942/44

Tourist Office of Langkawi (MTPB)
Kuah Jettty Terminal
07000 Langkawi
Dedah Darul Aman
: (4) 798789

Tourist Office of Penang (MTDP)
10, Ji Tun Syed Sheh Barakhbah
10200 Penang
: (4) 620066 or 619067 Fax : (4) 623688

Railways

National company KTM
Jl Sultan Hishamunddin,
50621 Kuala Lumpur.
: (3) 2749422

Airports

Kuala Lumpur airport: (3) 7461014
Kota Kinabalu airport (Sabah) : (88) 243617 ou 244811.
Kurching airport (Sarawak) : (82) 454255 ou 456255
Boskym airport in Miri (Sarawak) : (85) 34242
Batu airport : (6) 222648.

Ports

High Speed Luxury Ferry : (4) 789868
Selesa Express : (4) 789618 or : 789688

Kuala Perlis Langkawi Ferry Service
Jalan Besara King Edward,
10300 Penang.
: (4) 625630/1

Renting planes or helicopters

Malaysian helicopters Service : (3) 7561177

Pan Malaysian Air Transport : (3) 7464994

Helicos Hornbil Skyways : (82) 455737

Taxis

Kuala Lumpur : (3) 2936211, (3) 7465705, (3) 7330507

Malacca : (6) 223630

Penang : (4) 62572

Hotels and restaurants

Hyatt International
Jalan Datuk Salleh Sulong
88994 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
: (60/88) 221234 Fax : (60/88) 225972

Kuala Lumpur Hilton
Jalan Sultan Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Tel 00 60 3 2482322 Fax 00 60 3 2442157

Tanjug Aru Beach
Locked Bag 174
88999 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
: (60/88) 58711 Fax : (60/88) 217155

The Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur
City Square Centre
Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
: (60/3) 2625522 Fax (60/3) 2624492

Carcosa Seri Negara
Taman Tasik Perdana
50480 Kuala Lumpur
: (60/3) 2306766 Fax : (60/3) 230659

Equatorial
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
: (30/3) 2617777 Fax : (60/3) 2619020

Cherating Holiday Villa
Lot 1303
Muking Sungai Karang
26080 Kuantan
: (60/9) 508900 Fax : (60/9) 507078

Hyatt Kuantan
Telok Chempedak
25050 Kuantan
: (60/9) 525211 Fax : (60/9) 507577

Holiday Inn Damai beach (Holiday Inn),
P.O. Box 2870
93756 Kuching
Sarawak
: (60/82) 411777 Fax : (60/82) 428911

Burau Bay Resort
Teluk Burau
Pulau Langkawi
07000 Kedah
: (60/4) 911061 Fax : (60/4) 911172

Pelangi Beach Resort
Pantai Cenang
07000 Pulo langkawi Kedach.
: (60/4) 911001 Fax : (60/4) 911122

City Bayview Hotel
Jalan Bendahara
75100 Malacca
: (60/6) 239888 Fax : (60/6) 236699

Education

Co-Operative College of Malaysia
103 Templer Road
PO Box 60
Petaling Jaya
Selangor, D.E.

International Islamic University
Faculty of Law
PO Box 70
Jalan Sultan
46700 Petaling Jaya
Selangor

University of Agriculture
43400 UPM
Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

University of Malaysia
Pantai Valley
59100 Kuala Lumpir

University of Science Malaysia
11800 Pulau Pinang

University of Technology Malaysia
Kampus Sekudai
Karung Berkunci 791
80990 Johor Bahru
Johor

18 - Transport
Airline companies :
Malaysian Airlines has three direct flights a week from Paris to Kuala Lumpur (approx. 12 hrs flight) and does 50 flights a week from all over Europe.
Information : 01 44 51 64 20 in Paris or 04 97 03 15 20 in Nice
Alternatives are :
Air France via Singapore
British Airways via London
Lauda Air via Vienna
Thai Airways via Bangkok
SingaporeAirlines via Singapore

Internal transport :
By air : Malaysia Airlines and its subsidiary Pelangi Air do daily flights between all the towns in the country. There are many airports throughout the country.

By rail : the national company KTM (Jl Sultan Hishamunddin, 50621 Kuala Lumpur. : (3) 2749422), runs two main lines from north to south.
If you are going to Thailand or Singapore from Kuala Lumpur it is a good idea to use the express trains.

By sea : Ferries go between the islands and the peninsula. You can also rent a yacht, you can get information about this from Sea Tours in Paris (01 47 42 48 38).
The main ports :
Penang :
- High Speed Luxury Ferry : (4) 789868
- Selesa Express : (4) 789618 ou : 789688
- Kuala Perlis Langkawi Ferry Service, Jalan Besara King Edward, 10300 Penang : (4) 625630/1

Malacca :
- Sumatra Ferry Madai Shipping, 321 A Jl Tun : (6) 240671
By road : Taxis, express bus, Trishaw, 3-wheeler cyclo-pousse.

 19 -Time differences
The time difference with France is +6 hours in summer and +7 hours in winter.
The daylight last about 12 hours all the year round.
20 - Telecommunications
Only 19% of the population have a telephone.

To phone Malaysia from France : dial 00 60 + the town code + the n° of your correspondent
Kuala Lumpur = 3
Penang = 4
Malacca = 6
To phone France from Malaysia : dial 007 33 + the n° of your correspondent.
Emergencies : 999.

21 - Airports
The main airports in Malaysia :
Since 1998 visitors arrive at the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport which is 50 kms to the south of KL.
The old airport, Subang International is 23 kms out of town (tel 3 7461014)There is a bus service to town, n° 47 which takes 45 minutes.
The Kota Kinabalu airport in Sabah is 7 kms out of town (tel 88 243617 or 244811)
The Kurching airport in Sarawak is 11 kms out of town (tel 82 454255 or 456255)
The Boskym airport of Miri in Sarawak (tel 85 34242)
The Padang Matsirat International airport is 15kms out of Kuah in Langkawi
The Batu Berendam airport is 10 kms out of Malacca (tel 6 222648)
The Bayan Lepas airport is 16 kms out of Georgetown in Penang.

 22 - Vehicle rental
Rental agencies for planes and helicopters :
- Malaysian Helicopters Service : (3) 7561177
- Pan Malaysian Air Transport : (3) 7464994
- Helicos Hornbil Skyways : (82) 455737

Taxis :
- Kuala Lumpur : (3) 2936211, (3) 7465705, (3) 7330507
- Malacca : (6) 223630
- Penang : (4) 62572

Car rental :
To rent a car you need an international driving licence. In Malaysia driving is on the left.
Avis has several agencies in Malaysia.
The telephone n° of the central reservation office : 603 242 3500
Some other agencies :
Ipoh : 05 3126586
Johor Bahru : Tropical Inn Hotel 07 2237971 Senai airport : 07 5995380
Kerteh : airport : 09 5523666
Kota Bharu : Perdana Hotel 09 7484457
Kuala Lumpur : 03 2423500 - 03 87764540 - 03 2423500
Kuantan : 09 5398768/8769
Malacca : 06 2846710
Penang : Bayan Lepas Int. Airport 04 6439633

All Avis cars are completely equipped, have done less than 15,000 kms and have an average age of 3 months. The vehicles are carefully prepared and checked between each rental using a procedure containing 7 obligatory control points. The cars are rented with a full tank.
Renting from Avis automatically means that the car passengers, renter and/or driver are covered by a third party insurance as well as an insurance covering repatriation and the immobilization of the vehicule in case of an accident.

You can reserve a car :
- from your travel agent
- from the international reservation centre at 0 820 05 05 05
- or from any Avis agency
Avis has an interactive network worldwide, a client can reserve a car instantly from anywhere in the world.

We recommend that you pay your rental using your accredited Avis card or with another credit card accepted by Avis : American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Diners.
Through a simple free membership system, Avis gives identity and/or payment cards, which are a real help for a rapid and efficient service.

REASSURING : No on-line payment, you can pay Avis directly at the agency when you return the car
RAPID : Avis has the quickest car rental reservation service on the web
ECONOMICAL : The cheapest rates on the market are available on the Avis microsite
COMPLETE : You can rent a car anywhere in the world.
The Avis network : 5000 agencies in 172 countries, is now on-line!
EFFICIENT : Find your town (you don't have to fill in the country), enter the date and click on estimate
PRACTICAL : You only have to fill in 4 boxes and you will receive an e-mail confirming the reservation.
You can even rent a vehicle at the last minute just round the corner or ... on the other side of the world.
23 - Hotels& restaurants
There are several hotels of international standard, and also several more moderately priced hotels.
Kota Kinabalu (Sabah)
Hyatt International situated in the centre of town. The nearest airport is Kota Kinabula, which is 10 kms away. The hotel has 315 rooms and 21 suites, a business service, sport and leisure facilities : pool, golf, tennis, squash, a gymnasium, diving centre, water skiing, fishing nearby.

Tanjung Aru Beach situated on the coast. A modern hotel with 230 rooms and 15 suites, a business service, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, sport and leisure facilities : gymnasium, 2 pools, 4 tennis courts.

Kuala Lumpur :
The Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur, situated in the new commercial district. A modern hotel with 545 rooms and 31 suites, a business service, 3 restaurants, 3 bars, sport and leisure facilities : pool and fitness centre

Carcosa Seri Negara. Colonial architecture, situated in a large park at the foot of the town. Rooms with TV, a business service, a restaurant, bar, sport and leisure facilities : pool, fitness centre, sauna, tennis.

Equatorial. A modern hotel with 315 rooms and suites, a business service, 4 restaurants, 3 bars, Sport and leisure facilities , pool
Kuala Lumpur Hilton, situated in the centre of town
Century Kuala Lumpur : a 4 star hotel which is really good value for money. Nice service in this hotel with its 418 rooms situated at the heart of the Golden Triangle (tel 60 3 243 9898, e-mail cenkl@jaring.y)

Shangri-La : recently renovated it is one of the most prestigious hotels in Malaysia. There are 720 rooms and a garden. (tel 60 3 232 23 88, site web www.shangri-la.com)
(See list of hotels in Useful Addresses)

Penang
Cititel Penang : a 4 star hotel with 451 spacious rooms and suites situated in the old town. It has several restaurants, one with Japanese specialities, a pool, a fitness centre and a business centre. Tel 04 370 11 88 www.cititelhotel.com

Hotel 1926 : 5 minutes out of Georgetown town centre, 96 rooms, a bar and a restaurant in a colonial ambiance. Tel 04 228 1926 Fax 04 227 79 26

Average price of a hotel room for one person : 550 Francs

Restaurants :
Kuala Lumpur
Le Lafitte : French, Shangri-La Hotel,
Bangles and Shiraz : Indian
Melaka Grill : at the Hilton.

Penang
Eden Seafood Village : on the beach
Dragon King : an uninspired decor but the food is authentic Peranakan, a mix of Malaysian and Chinese flavours.
Average price of a meal without drinks for one person : 170 Francs

.24 - Your suitcase
If you plan to stay in the mountains take a sweater, jacket and anorak. For the rest of the country take light clothing, but as it is a Muslim country (particularly on the east coast) take clothes that cover you well - no mini shorts, tight clothes or low neck dresses.
You have to take off your shoes to visit houses or religious monuments, so it is easier to have sandals or mocassins than lace up shoes. Your legs and shoulders usually have to be covered to enter a mosque.
Even in business meetings people rarely wear a jacket and tie.


25 - Information
Public holidays
1st January : New Year (except in the following states : Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu)
1st February : Federal Territory Day (in Kuala Lumpur and in Labuan)
1st May : Labour Day
2nd June : anniversary of SPB Yang Ki-Pertuan Agong
3rd June : the King's birthday
4th June : the Prophet's birthday
31st August : National Day
14th November : Deepavali
16th-17th December : Hari Raya Puasa
25th December : Christmas Day

Shopping :
Batiks, local handicrafts at the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur ; visit the 'antique road' in Malacca.
Tinware, batiks, songkets, silverwork, jade

Gastronomy :
Plenty of shellfish and fish (specially grilled), excellent Chinese and Indian cooking.
Don't hesitate to try the restaurants in the streets, they are cheap and good.

Various :
Several import companies based in Malaysia have their headquarters in Singapore, where the strategic decisions are taken. Check that the person that you are going to meet has the power to take decisions.
It is a good idea to know the origins of the person that you are talking to to avoid making mistakes. The Bumiputras hold the political power and are in charge of the administration and the army. The Chinese are omni-present in the private sector.
Petty delinquance is increasing throughout Malasia. Be careful, several declarations of fraudulent use and copies of credit cards have been made.
Access to Internet is widespread in Malaysia.

26 - Banks
Opening times : Monday to Friday 10am - 3pm. Saturdays 9.30am - 11.30am.
No French bank has a cash dispenser in Kuala Lumpur.
27 - Schools and scholarity
Malaysian level of education :
adult illiteracy : 14%
secondary schooling/age group : 61%
university graduates/age group : 11%

The French School of Kuala Lumpur : 8A Jalan Tun Ismaïl, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
(pupils : 153, 112 of whom are French)
28 - Guides
Books & films :

- « The Malaysian Spell », « The 4 Dutchmen » and 29 other novels by Somerset Maugham.
- « Le sacrilège malais » by Pierre Boule.
- « Amok » by Stefan Zweig
- « Malaisie » by Henri Fauconnier
- « The Rice »by Shah-non Ahmad
- « La Dame de Malacca » by François de Croiset
- « Fortune », « The Negro of Narcissus» by Joseph Conrad
- « The World in Passing » by Aldous Huxley
- « Bivouacs à Bornéo » by Pierre Pfeffer.

Numerous scenes from the film"Indochine", "Les pirates de Malaisie" by Enrico Guazzoni, "L'Amant"and "Anna and the King" with Jodi Foster were made in Penang.

Business guides :
available at the Librairie du Commerce International, 10 avenue d'Iéna, BP 428-16, 75769 Paris Cedex 16
librairie@cfce.fr, tel 01 40 73 34 60 (in French)

Exporter en Malaisie : French Trade Commission in Kuala Lumpur 2279415089 - 2001 155 pages
Liste des sociétés françaises implantées en Malaisie : French Trade Commission in Kuala Lumpur - CFCE E06188-99L - 1999 168 pages
Les importations de la Malaisie en 1998 - les créneux porteurs : ed CVFCE E14849-99Y - 1999 - 17 pages
Kompass Malaisie (9000 entreprises) : ed Kompass K750595 - 2000

 29 - Observations
Tourism

In Kuala Lumpur :
-the Masjid Jame mosque which dates from the end of the 19th century, and the national mosque, the Masjid Negara which can hold 8,000 worshippers
- the Chinese district of Pataling for its shopping and to see the Chan See Shu Yeun temple built in 1906. At dusk the street stalls in the main roads of the Chinese district, the Jalan Petaling and the Jalan Sultan carry out their business under the light of trembling lanterns. It is the night market, the pasar Malam.
- the National Museum with its lake and gardens
- the railway station which is in Anglo-Mongol style and the square around the station, the Mas Jid Ja Me where the neo-Moorish style buildings of colonial KL are centred.
- the panoramic view from the top of the Petronas tower
- the Batu caves, which are 13 kms out of the town, where during religious manifestations the worshippers firewalk and pierce their cheeks, tongue or chest.

In Penang :
- Chinatown and Little India, Chinese temples, temple of 'Reclining Buddha' and Klewa Road next to it
- the State Museum, for the history of the town and its peoples
- the temple of the Khoo clan and its eclectic architecture
- the ancient mosque of Aceh and Armenian Street
- the bird park

In Sarawak :
- visit the Mulu caves with the spectacular limestone formations in the famous 'Stag Cave'
- explore a 'longhouse'
- taste 'tuak' (a wine made from fermented rice) and learn to dance the 'ngajat', a traditional dance which is presented during celebrations
- shoot the rapids on the Baram river through thick jungle
- go through part of the primary forest (the oldest forest in the world) and find Orang-Utans in their natural habitat, and the calao, the fabulous bird which is the official symbol of Sarawak
- see the artisans hand weaving 'pua kumbu', which is a material reserved for special religious occasions.

- The mosque in Selango (the highest in the world)
- Portuguese, Dutch vestiges in Malacca and the Chinese district
- the Kek Lok Si temple in the suburb of Air Itam.

Trade Fairs/Congresses/Exhibitions :

Putra World Trade Center is the most important congress centre in Kuala Lumpur.
(see Useful Addresses).

 30 - Useful Addresses
Useful Addresses in France
Malaysian Embassy
2 bis, Rue de Bénouville
75116 Paris
: 01.42.97.41.71 Fax : 01.45.53.11.85

Malaysian Tourist Office
29, rue des Pyramides
75001 Paris
: 01.42.97.41.71 Fax 01 42 97 41 69
internet : www.tourism.govmy (in English)

Useful Addresses in Malaysia

French Embassy
192-196 Jl Ampang
P.O. Box 107000, 50722
Tel : 00 60 3 20535500

Tourist Board
24-27 Floor, Menara Dato’Onn
Putra Word Trade Centre
45 Jl Tun ilsmail, 50480
Tel : (3) 2935188 Fax : (3) 2935884

Tourist Office of Kota Kinabalu (TDC)
Wisma Wing On Life
1 Jl Saguntin
88000 Kota Kinabalu
Tel : (88) 24.86.98 Fax : (4) 241764

Tourist Office of Kuching (MTPB)
2nd Floor - AIA bldg
Bukit Mata Kuching
JI Song Thian Check
93100 Kuching
Tel : (82) 246442

Tourist Information Centre
Main Bazar
Tel : (82) 410942/44

Tourist Office of Langkawi (MTPB)
Kuah Jettty Terminal
07000 Langkawi
Dedah Darul Aman
: (4) 798789

Tourist Office of Penang (MTDP)
10, Ji Tun Syed Sheh Barakhbah
10200 Penang
: (4) 620066 or 619067 Fax : (4) 623688

Railways

National company KTM
Jl Sultan Hishamunddin,
50621 Kuala Lumpur.
: (3) 2749422

Airports

Kuala Lumpur airport: (3) 7461014
Kota Kinabalu airport (Sabah) : (88) 243617 ou 244811.
Kurching airport (Sarawak) : (82) 454255 ou 456255
Boskym airport in Miri (Sarawak) : (85) 34242
Batu airport : (6) 222648.

Ports

High Speed Luxury Ferry : (4) 789868
Selesa Express : (4) 789618 or : 789688

Kuala Perlis Langkawi Ferry Service
Jalan Besara King Edward,
10300 Penang.
: (4) 625630/1

Renting planes or helicopters

Malaysian helicopters Service : (3) 7561177

Pan Malaysian Air Transport : (3) 7464994

Helicos Hornbil Skyways : (82) 455737

Taxis

Kuala Lumpur : (3) 2936211, (3) 7465705, (3) 7330507

Malacca : (6) 223630

Penang : (4) 62572

Hotels and restaurants

Hyatt International
Jalan Datuk Salleh Sulong
88994 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
: (60/88) 221234 Fax : (60/88) 225972

Kuala Lumpur Hilton
Jalan Sultan Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Tel 00 60 3 2482322 Fax 00 60 3 2442157

Tanjug Aru Beach
Locked Bag 174
88999 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
: (60/88) 58711 Fax : (60/88) 217155

The Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur
City Square Centre
Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
: (60/3) 2625522 Fax (60/3) 2624492

Carcosa Seri Negara
Taman Tasik Perdana
50480 Kuala Lumpur
: (60/3) 2306766 Fax : (60/3) 230659

Equatorial
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
: (30/3) 2617777 Fax : (60/3) 2619020

Cherating Holiday Villa
Lot 1303
Muking Sungai Karang
26080 Kuantan
: (60/9) 508900 Fax : (60/9) 507078

Hyatt Kuantan
Telok Chempedak
25050 Kuantan
: (60/9) 525211 Fax : (60/9) 507577

Holiday Inn Damai beach (Holiday Inn),
P.O. Box 2870
93756 Kuching
Sarawak
: (60/82) 411777 Fax : (60/82) 428911

Burau Bay Resort
Teluk Burau
Pulau Langkawi
07000 Kedah
: (60/4) 911061 Fax : (60/4) 911172

Pelangi Beach Resort
Pantai Cenang
07000 Pulo langkawi Kedach.
: (60/4) 911001 Fax : (60/4) 911122

City Bayview Hotel
Jalan Bendahara
75100 Malacca
: (60/6) 239888 Fax : (60/6) 236699

Education

Co-Operative College of Malaysia
103 Templer Road
PO Box 60
Petaling Jaya
Selangor, D.E.

International Islamic University
Faculty of Law
PO Box 70
Jalan Sultan
46700 Petaling Jaya
Selangor

University of Agriculture
43400 UPM
Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

University of Malaysia
Pantai Valley
59100 Kuala Lumpir

University of Science Malaysia
11800 Pulau Pinang

University of Technology Malaysia
Kampus Sekudai
Karung Berkunci 791
80990 Johor Bahru
Johor