General Information
Local Time
Standard Malaysian Time is 8 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+8) and 7 hours ahead of British Summer Time.
Languages
Bahasa Malaysia is the national language. English is widely spoken; Mandarin and some Chinese dialects are also widely spoken.
Currency
The currency in Sabah is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM). Travelers’ cheques and foreign currencies can be changed for Malaysian Ringgit at banks and hotels. However, there are also money changer kiosks available at major shopping complexes and airport.
Major Credit and Charge Cards
VISA, MasterCrad, American Express, Diners Club—credit and charge cards are accepted in almost all departmental stores , supermarkets, petrol stations and restaurants.
Electricity & Water Facilities
Electricity is on the 240 Volts AC/ 50-Cycle system; treated pipe water is available in most urban and sub-urban areas.
Communications
The country code for Malaysia is 60 and you will need to prefix outgoing international calls with 00. Mobile telephones are widely used - GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover practically the whole country. Network operators include Celcom (www.celcom.com.my), DiGi (www.digi.com.my) and Maxis (www.maxis.com.my).
Medical
Government hospitals, clinics and dispensaries are available in all towns. The list of private medical practitioners and pharmacies are available in the local phone directory. However, those with specific medical needs are advised to bring with them a good supply of medications.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected as most bills in restaurants and hotels include a service charge of 10%. This is in addition to a Government tax of 5% which is usually denoted by a ++ sign on menu and signage. Of course you can always leave an additional tip for excellent service if you wish to. Tip a porter at least Rm1 anything less may be considered an insult.
Common Customs
In Sabah, we greet people by saying “selamat datang” (welcome) and/ or “terima kasih” (thank you) with a smile. Whilst this is a very friendly, welcoming country there are one or two things which you should observe to avoid offending anyone:
- It’s customary to remove shoes before entering a mosque as well as homes.
- In places of worship, visitors are required to dress modestly.
- Nude sunbathing is not allowed and is very frowned upon.
- Avoid pointing your index finger at others, as this is considered rude in the local custom.
- Handle food with your right hand.
- Do not point your foot at someone.
- When giving or receiving money gifts to/from a Malaysian, use your right hand.