Country specific newsletterResearch

Information about the country• Capital- Kuala Lumpur• Currency- Malaysian ringgit, 1 Malaysian Ringgit = 19.41 INR• Languages spoken- Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the national

language but English is widely spoken. Other languages include Mandarin and Tamil.

• Type of government- Malaysia is governed by a Parliamentary democracy with abicameral legislative system. The Head of the Government is the Prime Minister

• Size of country- Landmass of 329,847 square kilometres. Located between 2° and 7° north of the Equator, Peninsula Malaysia is separated from the states of Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea. To the north of Peninsula Malaysia is Thailand while its southern neighbor is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are north of Indonesia in Borneo while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei.

• Population: 26 million • Time zone- GMT+8

Top characteristics of the country• The USP of Malaysia is people from different countries like

China ,India , Bangladesh have settled down In Malaysia and their amalgam with the local Malaysians has paved the way for a unique multi-cultural society.

• Another major attraction of Malaysia is its wide variety of delicacies. Its the perfect destination to please one’s taste buds : from Nasi Ayam , Satay, Nasi goreng and Lima Kastturie.

• Apart from food and people, Malaysia has an excellent blend of natural and artificial beauty. From the splendid KL Towers to the sparkling waters of Perhentian islands, from the exquisite Cameroon Highlands to the enthralling Genting Highlands. Malaysia is also a shopper’s paradise.

Something about the AIESEC entity• Number of AIESEC entities in the country- AIESEC is currently present

in 12 universities in Malaysia:- Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi- Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pahang- Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang- Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor- Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Perak- Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah- University of Malaya, Petaling Jaya- University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih- Sunway University, Petaling Jaya- Curtin University, Miri

• Number of members in AIESEC in the country- • Number of exchanges they do in GCDP- about 800(2012)• President of that AIESEC entity- Joshua Lim

Unique points about the culture• Islam being the official religion, all offices are off on Friday afternoon for

Friday prayers and extended lunch break.• Malaysia is very unique in the sense of its culture. People of different

religions and backgrounds mix easily together, respect and live with each other peacefully. The outcome is a spectacular mix of people, food, traditions and culture. Malaysians are generally a very happy and cheerful people, but most of them will not tolerate bad manners and rudeness. Manners are important in this country; always say "thank you" and "excuse-me" when you are interacting with people. Like most Asians, the people here can be introverted and a little shy.

• If you are to visit a Malaysian private home or most Malaysian places of worship, be prepared to remove your shoes and wear conservative clothing. You'll also need to keep the conversation down in the places of worship. There is a huge difference in exposure towards foreign cultures between Malaysian cities and their rural areas, but if you dress conservatively when venturing out of the cities and tourist areas, you'll find that Malaysians are very tolerant of any other faux pas.

Food• Malaysian cuisine is influenced by various cultures

from all around the world. Malaysia's population consists mostly of three ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese and Indians. As a result of historical migrations and Malaysia's geographical advantage, Malaysia's culinary style is a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai and Arabian cuisines - to name a few. This resulted in a symphony of flavors, making Malaysian cuisine highly exotic.

Places to visit• Cameron Highlands• Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC• Langkawi• Genting Highlands• Mulu Caves• Sunway Lagoon theme park• Penang Hill• Redang Island• Georgetown city• Menara KL tower

Top 10 things to do in the country• Visit Petronas Towers• Have fun at Genting Highlands• Dress in the traditional Malaysian attire• Afternoon tea and scones at Cameron Highlands• Revisit childhood at LEGOLand and Hello Kitty town• Watersports-try wreckdiving at Redang Island• Try the famous dishes of Malaysian Cuisine-Jalan

Aron’s street food experience• Explore the historical places on foot• Visit the living culture museum at Sarawak• Shop at the Outlet Mall

Tips for being mentally prepared.• Learning a bit of Bahasa Malaysia (basic words). Most of

them communicate in that language. If you want to get heard like a Malaysian, add a “la” after every English word you say. .Although funny it can help you get through tricky situations.

• Traveling is very easy and comfortable since entire Malaysia is very well connected by trains and bus services.

• Don’t forget to carry an umbrella or raincoat since often it rains incessantly in Malaysia and of course adequate medicine should be taken along( since its tough to get any treatment in hospitals unless you have a medical insurance).

• You must get a travel insurance as well that includes medical expenses.

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