The local currency is called the ‘Ringgit’ and the approximate exchange rate is 3.3 Ringgit for 1 US dollar. You will need to check the prevailing rate with your bank or at the airport on arrival.
You can exchange for Malaysian Ringgits at the airports, banks, and major shopping malls. Traveler’s cheques are accepted by banks and most tourist shops. Most ATM (automatic cash dispensers) at commercial banks also dispenses local money from Visa and Master card holders, and some operates on a twenty four hour basis. If you need specific advices on money matters, you can ask your hotel people. Most commercial outlets accept Visa and Master cards, while some also accept American Express. Foreign cheques are however not accepted.
Hash House Harriers Kota Melaka 160-F, Jln Laksamana 12,
Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200, Malacca.
Men’s only run every Friday 6pm. Phone: 606 282 9835
Email: tsthara@tm.net.my
P.O.Box 256, Melaka
Airline Offices
Malaysia Airlines has an office in City Bayview Hotel
Phone: 606 283 0654
Pelangi Airways flies to Pekan Baru, Sumatra on Tue, Thur, Fri and Sunday at 12.35 am
Phone:606 317 4685
Sea Travels
Madai Shipping
Daily ferry to Dumai, Sumatra Phone: 606 284 0671
Tunas Rapat
Daily ferry to Damai, Sumatra Phone: 606 283 2506
Parameswara Tours
Operates a Malacca river cruise daily from 10am, tide permiting.
Also available: boat trip to Pulau Besar, Pulau Upeh
Phone: 606 286 5468
There are express buses that serves outstation destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Johor Baru, Ipoh, Penang, Kuantan and Kota Baru and it is available regularly from the Melaka Sentral bus stand opposite Tesco supermarket off Jln Tun Abdul Razak.
Town buses also operate around city areas on an hourly basis.Taxi services: 606 288 2525
Car Rentals
In order to drive in Malaysia, you will need an International Driving Liscence. When you rent a car from bona fide car renting firms, you are automatically insured.
Avis Malaysia
Lot 0.4, Ground Floor, Angkasa Raya Building, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 1800 88 1054
Special Panorama Buses
Red liners
Hop on Hop off red double Decker air conditioned buses where you pay Ringgit Malaysia 5 and you are allowed to stop and alight at 13 interesting places in town. The route covers most of the historic sites in the city. Tickets are available at Melaka Central bus station.
Blue line bus operates around town and outskirts. You can hop on and hop off as well, but buses are non air conditioned and the fare is only Ringgit Malaysia 2. Tickets are available at Melaka Central bus station as well.
Trains
There is no direct train service to Malacca, but there is a station in Tampin, about 15 miles away. There are however, connecting taxi services from and to the train stations. You may ask your hotel to arrange for the trip.
General Hospital: 606 282 2344
Putra Hospital
Pantai Specialist Hospital, Lebuh Ayeh Keroh, Melaka. Tel No. : 606-2319 999 Fax No.: 606-2313 299
E-mail: hpak@po.jaring.my www.pantai.com.my
Mahkota Medical Centre,
3, Mahkota Melaka, Jln Merdeka,
75000, Melaka.
Tel:606 258 2999
Fax:606 281 0560
Post Office: 06 283 3844
* Visitors are required to have a valid travel documents with a minimum validity of 6 months beyond intended stay.
Visa Requirements:Commonwealth citizens do not need a visa for entry with exceptions.
Nationals of ASEAN countries do not need a visa for social and business stay not exceeding a month.
CustomsDuty free items include:
Cameras, video equipments, radios, HiFi sets, watches, pens and perfumed cosmetics.
Visitors on bringing in dutiable items must pay a deposit which will be refunded upon exit.
Airport taxThere is a departure tax of Malaysian Ringgit 4 and 40 for both domestic and international flights.
Warnings
Drug trafficking in the country is prohibited and you can be sentenced to death if found guilty!!
Medicines for personal consumptions should be accompanied with a certified medical endorsement.
Office working hoursFor Government offices:
From 8 am to 4.15 pm Monday to Friday with an hour of lunch break at 1 pm for states of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Perak, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak
States of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Pahang and Trengganu works from Saturday to Thursday.
Private sectors:
Normally works from 9am to 6 pm Monday to Friday. Saturdays may be a half-working day for some.
Bank’s working hour from 9.30am to 3.30 pm. Monday to Fridays.
ATM and cash dispensers are open twenty four hours. Some banks in tourist districts will open for half a day on weekends as well.
Departmental stores are opened from 10am to 10pm everyday, including public holidays.
Post offices work from 8.30 am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday, with the first Saturday of the month being a non working day. Parcel services are available to most countries at reasonable prices.
Telephone and InternetTalikoms Malaysia is the only land line telephone service provider. There are four operational wireless service providers with GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3G and HSDPA services. Phone service providers operate in the 900, 1800, 1900 and UMTS wavebands. Visitors can buy local SIM cards for their cell phones at a very reasonable rate. These prepaid SIMs however need a simple process of registration and is readily available at most cell phone shops. Activations can be effected within half a day in most cases.
Land line internet service is provided by Talikom Malaysia.WiFi is available at most shopping malls. Some are free, whilst others are paid. You can buy a prepaid card for WiFi at most shopping outlets. Most hotels have internet services available either free or for rent. Some have WiFi at their coffee houses for free.
The Malacca state government has started installing low cost WiFi access points. By 2009, at least 75% of urban areas will be able to enjoy this service Low rate daily prepaid cards will be available soon.
WiMax will be available by third quarter of 2009.Low broadband data post paid accounts for cell phones are also available at the offices of the four cell phone service providers. Rates start at Malaysian Ringgit 66(about USD 20) for a months service. Daily data plans are also available. Besides using your cell phone to connect to the internet, there are also many internet cafes available where you can access the net. Charges range from USD 2 per hour basis to USD 3. However these places are a bit smoky as there are often patronized by young smokers.
All said, visitors will be able to stay connected at a very affordable rate. It is advisable that they don’t use their roaming rates as it is very expensive.
Facts on Malaysia My Second HomeThe Malaysian Government welcomes foreign nationals (except citizens of Israel, Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro) to stay in Malaysia on a long term Social Visit Pass under the “MALAYSIA – MY SECOND HOME” programe. The duration of stay is for a period of 10 years with a Multiple Entry Visa. This programme allows foreigners to purchase up to two units of residential premises costing more than RM150, 000.00 (approximately US$42,000) each. However, it does not entitle participants of the programme to permanent resident status.
* Malaysia
Visa, Pass and Permit Division
Level 3, Block 2G4 (Podium) Precinct 2 Federal Government Administration Centre 62550 Putrajaya Federal Territory , Malaysia.
* All Malaysian Tourism Offices
* Immigration Department of Malaysia website: www.mm2h.gov.my
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