Travel safe in Malaysia, useful advices for taking a trip

QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Private healthcare in Malaysia is undoubtedly of a higher level than public healthcare. In general, all medical needs are covered on site. However, if there are more serious problems or surgical operations are required, repatriation is advisable, as such treatments in private facilities would be very expensive. This is why it is advisable to take out private insurance, even before departure, to cover any medical expenses and also a possible repatriation with an equipped flight. Generally speaking, medicines are readily available in the country.

ENDEMIC DISEASES IN MALAYSIA

Among the diseases present in Malaysian territory we find mainly Dengue fever, a disease very similar to influenza, caused by the bite of a particular type of mosquito. To avoid contracting this disease, which can have serious complications, we recommend the use of insect bite repellent sprays, wearing comfortable clothing to protect your legs and shoulders, and, if possible, staying in facilities with air-conditioned areas or mosquito nets. If you suspect that you have contracted dengue fever, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible or go to a health facility. Remember that you should avoid taking antipyretic drugs if you have not had a prior medical examination, as antipyretics can cause complications in the case of dengue fever.

Other endemic diseases in the country are hepatitis and Japanese encephalitis (a disease transmitted by the ‘culex’ mosquito), a common disease in almost all of South-East Asia. There have also been a few cases of the ‘Zika’ virus, another disease transmitted through the bite of the ‘aedes aegypti’ mosquito, the same one that causes Dengue and Chikunguya. The same precautions apply to these diseases, as indicated above.

There have also been cases of leptospirosis (bacterial infection caused by contact with infected water, soil or urine from infected rats or animals). If you contract this disease, you should immediately go to an emergency room if you experience symptoms such as joint pain, headache or fever, in order to establish an exact diagnosis.

There have also been reports of cases of rabies, caused by the bite of infected stray monkeys, dogs or cats. Therefore, avoid approaching monkeys and other animals during your excursions to avoid any inconvenience. In case of a bite, you should go to the nearest emergency room for investigation.

As already suggested, the best precaution is to take out an insurance policy before leaving to cover medical expenses and possible admission to a hospital in another country, or even repatriation on an equipped flight.

WARNINGS FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGES

Food should be treated with great care as hygiene in the country is rather lacking. Always wash raw vegetables and fruit very carefully and avoid food that has been cooked and stored poorly. As for soft drinks or water, it is safer to buy them in sealed bottles, without adding ice, which may have been produced with non-pure water.

COMPULSORY VACCINATIONS IN MALAYSIA

The only compulsory vaccination to enter Malaysia is against Yellow Fever and is required for all travellers over 1 year of age coming from countries at risk or who have been in one of the airports of these countries for more than 12 hours: Senegal, Guinea, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya, Congo, Uganda and Gabon, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Before leaving, consult your doctor for advice on possible vaccination against hepatitis, malaria and cholera (the last two will be useful if you are travelling to Borneo).

Malaysia is a fairly stable nation from a social point of view. Nonetheless, there are some critical situations in certain areas of the country, caused by social tensions resulting from political clashes. It is therefore not possible to exclude the possibility of serious conflicts between demonstrators and the police.
For the same reason, the risk of terrorist episodes cannot be excluded, even though the intelligence authorities are constantly monitoring the territory. In fact, security measures have been stepped up, especially in areas with a greater influx of people, such as tourist destinations, government buildings and accommodation facilities.
Travel to the north and west coasts relating to the Sabah region, as well as nearby islands, is discouraged due to a number of kidnapping incidents. It will be sufficient to keep up to date through institutional channels (see “Security warnings” below) in order to be informed even before departure about the real security situation in the country. It is always recommended to avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place or crowds are gathering. At the moment, there are no reports of public order problems in the country, only a few episodes of petty crime in areas of high tourist flow.
The Malaysian religion is predominantly Muslim, so we advise you to take care in your clothing and behaviour, especially when visiting outside tourist areas. Remember that during Ramadan there are specific rules to be adopted in order to respect the host country.

SECURITY WARNINGS IN MALAYSIA

We encourage travellers to adopt, in general, these simple rules for a safe journey:

• as soon as you arrive in Malaysia, keep up to date with the local media and contact the Embassy if necessary;
• avoid approaching demonstrations, street protests or gatherings. Please note that under Malaysian law, foreign citizens are not allowed to participate in demonstrations. This is considered ‘illegal’;
• Keep your alertness high by avoiding crowded places or institutional facilities in the capital or major cities, including shopping malls, clubs or festivals especially on Fridays or religious holidays;
• do not keep your bags, backpacks or wallets too much in sight, especially if you are in the city, at the station or at the airport;
• leave important or valuable items at the hotel – it is advisable to put mobile phones, money and documents in the inside pockets of jackets or clothes, separate from bags or backpacks. The reason is that there have been episodes of petty crime such as muggings or thefts, often committed with the use of scooters, especially in areas with a high density of tourists;
• if the police stop you for a check, be cooperative and show your documents. In the event that you are placed in custody for any reason, contact the Embassy for assistance;
• be cautious and do not trust strangers who approach you with the excuse of having information or who insist on accompanying you to meet friends or relatives;
• do not divulge the details of your personal documents, especially on social networks or other web channels (unless they are verified), as cases of identity theft aimed at extorting victims are increasing;
• when visiting mosques, remember to cover your legs, arms and head, as well as taking off your shoes. Although Malaysia is multi-ethnic and welcomes many religions, it is predominantly Islamic, which is why it is important to follow ethical rules at all times and to avoid behaviour that may be outrageous in any way;
• use your credit card carefully as fraud is commonplace in restaurants, hotels and even in duty free shops at the airport;
• do not consume alcohol except in places where imported alcohol is supplied or in large hotels. Cases of serious complications have been reported from tourists who drank illegally made and adulterated alcohol;
  avoid casual acquaintances in both bars and restaurants and do not accept drinks or food from unknown people or leave your plate unattended. Someone may add drugs to knock you out and rob you;

REGULATIONS ON THE USE OF DRUGS

The use of drugs is strictly prohibited. The penalties for this type of offence are very severe and even include the death penalty. Border police may require travellers suspected of using drugs, including amphetamines, to undergo a medical examination. We recommend that our fellow countrymen and women, in the event that they are apprehended by the police for these offences, contact the Embassy immediately and do not make any statements or testimonies without first consulting a lawyer.

REGULATIONS RELATING TO SEXUAL ABUSE OR VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORS

For such offences, Malaysian law provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment. In the unfortunate event that you find yourself unwittingly involved in issues related to alleged or apparent sexual abuse or prostitution, you should contact your embassy as soon as possible.