AM1516_EP Reception Booklet_Part 1

GLOBAL CITIZEN PROGRAMME AIESEC in MALAYSIA

National Reception Booklet [PART I]

Welcome Note Introduction Introduction To AIESEC Introduction To AIESEC In Malaysia Introduction To Malaysia

2

3 4 5

Essence Of Malaysia Our Food Our Language Our Transport Our Expenses

9 12 14 18

Living In Malaysia Meetings And Greetings Dress Code Electricity Currency And Monetary Telecommunications

20 21 22 23 24

Travelling in Malaysia Checklist Places To Travel Fun Facts About Malaysia

25 26 31

End Note

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Table of Contents

1

First of all, Congratulations on being matched with AIESEC in Malaysia! Thank you for selecting Malaysia as your internship destination. We welcome you with open arms and look forward to learn from you and help you learn more about yourself!

The purpose of this booklet is to help you in preparing yourself to come to our beautiful country, but the information provided might not be complete. So we recommend that you read up as much as possible about Malaysia through guidebooks, websites, or information from the embassy before coming.

If you need any extra information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Every culture on earth differs in a way that we might never imagine. Prepare yourself well for the challenges ahead. Malaysia is a very unique place that is full of challenges and opportunities. Open up your mind for any possibilities that you might encounter during your amazing internship experience!

We hope that you will enjoy your whole duration of your stay here! Best of luck in your preparation, and we are looking forward to working with you soon.

2

Welcome Note

AIESEC forms the largest leading youth organization in the world with a global network of over 100 countries and territories with over 23,000 members worldwide. AIESEC is an independent, non-profit,

and

non-political

organization run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher learning.

We

provide

exchange

Program

International

(IXP),

a

global

learning environment and leadership opportunities to our members who are interested in leadership, management and world issues.

Introduction to AIESEC

3

AIESEC is currently present in 13 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  Sunway University, Petaling Jaya

 Curtin University, Miri  Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching  University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih

Visit our website : www.aiesec.my

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AIESEC in Malaysia

Multiculturalism has not only made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise, it has also made Malaysia home to hundreds of colorful festivals. It's no wonder that we love celebrating and socializing. As a people, Malaysians are very laid back, warm and friendly.

Geographically, Malaysia is as diverse as its culture. There are two parts to the country, 11 states in the Peninsula of Malaysia and two states on the northern part of Borneo. Cool hideaways are found in the highlands that roll down to warm, sandy beaches and rich, humid mangroves.

One of Malaysia's key attractions is its extreme contrasts. Towering skyscrapers look down upon wooden houses built on stilts, and five-star hotels sit several meters away from ancient reefs.

For the perfect holiday full of surprises, eclectic cultures and natural wonders, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.

Introduction to Malaysia

5

Country The Federation of Malaysia comprises Peninsula Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

Geographical Location Located between 2ยบ and 7ยบ 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 30 million

People Malays who make up about 57% of the population are the predominant group with Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups making up the rest.

6

Introduction to Malaysia

Capital Kuala Lumpur

Administrative Capital Federal Territory of Putrajaya

Religion Islam is the official religion but all other religions are freely practiced.

Government Malaysia is governed by a Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislative system. The Head of the Government is the Prime Minister.

Climate Tropical climate with warm weather all year round. Temperatures in the lowlands range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF). The highlands are cooler, where temperatures range between 15°C (59°F) to 25°C (77°F).

Time Eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

Introduction to Malaysia

7

Language Although Bahasa Malaysia is the official language, English is widely spoken, especially in business and commerce. Chinese dialects like Cantonese and Mandarin and Indian dialects like Tamil and Hindi are common among the Chinese and Indian communities.

Flag

The 14 stripes, of equal width, represent the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government, the 14 points of the star represent the unity between these entities. The crescent represents Islam, the country's official religion; the blue canton symbolizes the unity of the Malaysian people; the yellow of the star and crescent is the royal colour of the Malay rulers.

Coat of Arms

8

National Flower

Introduction to Malaysia

Malaysia Traditional Food Satay, modern Malay spelling of sate, is a dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce.

Nasi lemak is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf commonly found in Malaysia, where it is considered the national dish.

Teh tarik is a hot milk tea beverage which can be commonly found in restaurants, outdoor stalls and coffee shops.

Our Food

9

Roti canai or roti cane is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread found in Malaysia. It is often sold in Mamak stalls in Malaysia

Ais kacang, literally meaning "ice beans", also commonly known as ABC, is a Malaysian dessert

Cendol is a traditional dessert originating from Southeast Asia which is popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Burma.

10

Our Food

Malaysia Traditional Food

Rojak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The term "Rojak" is Malay for mixture.

Chicken rice is a dish adapted from early Chinese immigrants originally from the Hainan province in southern China.

Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup in the Peranakan cuisine, which is a combination of Chinese and Malay cuisine.

Our Food

11

Speak Like a Malaysian Yes

Good morning

Ya

Selamat pagi

No

Good afternoon

Bukan

Selamar tengah hari

Thank you

Good evening

Terima Kasih

Selamat petang

You are welcome

Good night

Sama-sama

Selamat malam

Hello, how are you? Sorry Helo, apa khabar?

Minta maaf

I’m fine.

Help!

Khabar baik

Tolong!

How much is it?

Berapakah harganya?

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Our Language

Our Language

Name

Race

Nama

Bangsa

Age

Sir

Umur

Encik

Gender

Madam

Jantina

Puan

Male

Friend

Lelaki

Kawan

Female

Like

Perempuan

Suka

Ownself

Prefer

Sendiri

Lebih Suka

Address

Sick

Alamat

Sakit

Job

Visit

Pekerjaan

Melawat

Citizen

Hungry

Warganegara

Lapar

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Public Transportation in Kuala Lumpur Rapid KL is the key public transportation company in KL with LRT, monorail, bus http://www.myrapid.com.my/ Two public transportation methods available: train and bus. Train tickets are to be bought at the station from vending machine or ticket counter; bus tickets from the driver. Always carry with you small notes and coins, because in Rapid KL buses you have to pay exact amount and sometimes train ticket machines only accept coins. Keep your ticket throughout the journey, because you’ll need it to get through the gate when exiting the station. Watch your belongings especially when getting on and off the train.

Cabs are usually cheaper when they use the meter, but most often the drivers will insist on a fixed price. Try to negotiate a reasonable price and when you find exceptionally fair drivers, take their numbers so that you can call them again next time.

14

Our Transport

Transportation in Malaysia Taxi (Cab) Taxis in KL are available 24 hours a day, and are based on a metered rate. The flagoff rate is RM3.00 and 10 cents is charged for every 150 meters travelled. If you ever get on a cab, do insist on being charged by the meter. However, taxis do have additional charges for services after midnight or for services booked by phone.

Other taxi like the Airport Limousine taxis uses a prepaid coupon system in which you have to pay at the counter.

Bus Buses in KL are also quite convenient. Bus services like Rapid KL, City Liner and Metrobus make up a network of routes.

Train Trains in Kuala Lumpur, the Light Rail Transit (LRT), KL Monorail and KTM Komuter trains will provide regular accessibility to many places within the city as well as to several outlying towns. The KL Sentral Station is a transportation hub where various modes of transportation converge.

Our Transport

15

KTM (Train in Malaysia)

Taxi

Buses in Malaysia 16

Our Transport

Our Transport

17

Expenses The cost of living in Malaysia is moderate.

Depending on your appetite, you should budget at least RM 500-RM800 for food per month.

In addition, you will have transportation, clothing and personal expenses to figure out into your budget.

Grocery Index Item

Price

1 loaf of bread

RM2.50

1 dozen of eggs

RM 5.50

Fresh milk (1 litre)

RM6.10

1 can of 100 plus

RM1.60

1 can of Coke

RM2.00

Mineral Water 1500ml

RM2.00

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Our Expenses

Money Your costs will mainly depend on your style here; at the beginning you will need some more cash as you will have some expenses with transport and phone SIM card. In terms of food, a standard meal cost around RM 6, McDonald’s will be around RM 6 to RM 13 depending on promotion times and the local foods will cost around RM6.

An average spending EP usually spends only around RM 1500 to RM 2000 for the whole period of 6 months (Including the trips and vacation around Malaysia). But we also had EPs that spend a lot in the sense of eating expensive food and going to travel often too far places will spend around RM 2500 or maybe even RM 3000. Again these prices vary on the way you spend here.

Our Expenses

19

Meetings and Greetings Greetings in a social context will depend upon the ethnicity of the person you are meeting. In general, most Malaysians are aware of Western ways, so a handshake is normal. There may be slight differences though and a few things to bear in mind that include:  Malay women are not to shake hands with men. Women can shake hands with women.  Malay men are not to shake hands with women. They will use the salam with a slight bow while placing their right hand on their heart.  The Chinese handshake is light and may be rather prolonged, sometimes accompanied with a touch on the arm.  Men and women may shake hands, although the woman must extend her hand first. Many older Chinese lower their eyes during the greeting as a sign of respect.  Indians shake hands with members of the same sex. When being introduced to someone of the opposite sex, nodding the head and smiling is usually sufficient.  Among all cultures, there is a general tendency to introduce:  The most important person to the lower ranking person.  The elder person to the younger person.  Women to men.

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Meetings and Greetings

Dress Code Since Malaysia enjoys a tropical climate which is hot and sunny, lightweight clothing, as well as cotton, is ideal when going for sight seeing or traveling around town. Generally, t-shirts and shorts are acceptable.

However,

appropriately

when

do

dining

dress out

in

restaurants or going for a night out, particularly in cities. Certain establishments also have a dress code. It is also important to dress decently (no shorts) when visiting villages and also any places of worship.

Business formal is usually appropriate for a first meeting. Visits to government offices, public organizations such as schools and universities require visitors to be in T-shirts with collars, pants cover the ankle level, and covered shoes.

Dress Code

21

Electricity Voltage is 220 -240 volts AC at 50Hz. Standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets.

If the devices that you are carrying do not accept 240 Volts at 50 Hertz, you are required to use a voltage converter. There are mainly three types of voltage converters that are adaptable to the Malaysian voltage: 1) Resistor‐network converters (50‐1600 Watts) Such converters are used for lightweight usage and support high‐wattage electrical appliances such as hair dryers and irons.

2) Transformers (50‐100 Watts) For continuous use and better electricity, transformers are best if used for low wattage appliances like battery chargers, radios, laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players and camcorders.

3) Combination Converters These converters have a combination of both a resistor network and a transformer.

They come along with a switch that switches between the two modes.

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Electricity

Currency The unit of currency is Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) indicated as RM 1 U.S. dollar = RM 4.24 1 Euro = RM 4.81 (as of 27th Aug 2015) Foreign currency can be converted at banks and moneychangers at major shopping malls, borders, and airports. * Subjected to Change

ATM You may withdraw cash from ATM at local banks. Your card needs to have a CIRRUS logo or MasterCard logo or Western Union Logo.

Local Banks Affin bank Berhad Alliance Bank Am Bank Berhad CIMB Bank Berhad Hong Leong Bank Berhad Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) Public Bank Berhad RHB Bank Berhad Don’t forget to activate your card for international usage .

Currency and Monetary

23

Phone code to dial into Malaysia: 00 or +60 ‐ Country code for Malaysia, Area code (1 or 2 numbers), Phone number (6 or 8 numbers) 00 + 60 + 1*(*) + *** **** eg 00+6012+3281329 When you are in Malaysia, you can dial the above numbers without ‘+6’ using any of the public phones but if you are using your mobile phone, dial the numbers shown above.

Telecommunications TuneTalk http://www.tunetalk.com/my/ Umobile http://www.u.com.my/ Hotlink www.hotlink.com.my/ DiGi www.digi.com.my/

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Telecommunications

What should I bring?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Passport Visa Personal medicine (if any) Vitamins Clothes Jacket Umbrella (rainy season from October to March) Bedsheet, pillow sheet, blanket Torchlight Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, comb, shaving supplies Towels Insect Repellent Pencil/ pens Laptop & Charger Cell phone & Charger Notebook Slippers Sanitary pad (girl) etc.

Please do not forget to take with you various items, characteristic of your country( flag, postcards, movie presentation, music…).

Check List

25

Petronas Twin Towers The 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, otherwise known as KLCC, is one of the world's tallest twin structures.

Stretching out to one side of this architectural masterpiece is the spacious and beautifully landscaped KLCC Park. Other attractions at KLCC are Suria Shopping Complex, Petronas Philharmonic Hall, Petrosains Science Centre, Petronas Art Gallery and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, where The Aquaria Oceanarium is situated.

A 58.4 metre sky bridge at levels 41 and 42 links the Twin Towers. The unique double-deck sky bridge stands 170 metres above street level with its arch support forming a symbolic gateway to the city centre.

The sky bridge Opening Hours: 0830 - 1900 Opening Days: every Tuesday to Sunday Entrance fee: Free How to get there?

The Putra LRT train, KLCC station is linked with shopping mall Suria KLCC, you will find direction there.

Detailed Information: www.suriaklcc.com.my

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Places to Travel

KL Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur) Soaring to 421m, and considered a main feature of the city skyline, the KL Tower is the world's fourth tallest communications tower.

To experience the exhilarating view from the KL Tower, you can go to the 335-metre high observation deck on a high-speed lift. From here, the city's eccentric architecture and lush greenery will be laid out before you.

Opening Hours: 0930-2200 Everyday

Entrance fee: RM15 How to get there?

The easiest way to get to the Bukit Nanas is via the KL Monorail or Dang Wangi via LRT. From there you need to take a taxi or walk up Jalan Sultan Ismail then turn right on Jalan P.Ramlee, and right again up the hill. The KL Tower entrance will be on your left.

Detailed Information: www.menarakl.com.my

Places to Travel

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Central Market Central Market is a one stop shopping centre for Malaysian products such as handicrafts, art, kebaya, songket, batik and the wide variety of Malaysian cuisine.

The building was built in 1888 was originally a wet market. Malaysia is well known for her multiracial culture where people of different races live in peace and perfect harmony.

Central Market has created a corner to display multi ethnicity and zoned the stalls based on the features of each race.

Opening Hours: 1000-2200 Everyday How to get there?

The Pasar Seni station on the LRT line is right outside Central Market.

Detailed Information www.centralmarket.com.my

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Places to Travel

Putra Mosque The pink-domed Putra Mosque is constructed with rose-tinted granite and can accommodate 15,000 worshippers at any one time. The basement wall of the mosque resembles that of the King Hassan Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco.

Putra Bridge The three-tier bridge is inspired by the Islamic architecture of the famous Khaju Bridge in Isfahan, Iran.

Its magnificent attractions are the four minaret-type piers, complete with observation decks, overlooking the Putrajaya Lake.

Putrajaya Cruise Putrajaya Lake is in the heart of the administrative city, and visitors can take a leisure cruise on the lake. One can view stunning vistas of the surrounding area from the cruise, including the Putrajaya Mosque, Putrajaya Bridge as well as several government administrative buildings. Visitors can opt to sail the lake on a passenger cruise boat, which is a great option in the day and even more spectacular at night! Visitors can choose from two different modes to cruise on the Putrajaya Lake, either the passenger cruise vessel or the gondola-like vessels available in 4 to 6 seaters.

Places to Travel

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Pulau Redang (Redang Island) Pulau Redang, situated 45km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu, is the largest of all Terengganu's islands.From the very first glance, Pulau Redang will enchant visitors with its compelling beauty. Its incredibly azure waters fringed by white sand, against the backdrop of verdant jungle-clad hills make picture-postcard views.

Pulau Redang archipelago comprises 9 islands, the Lima Island, Paku Besar Island, Paku Kecil Island, Kerengga Besar Island, Kerengga Kecil Island, Ekor Tebu Island, Ling Island, Pinang Island and Redang Island. This archipelago is abounds with marvellous marine fishes, turtles and coral reefs, ensuring a great snorkelling and scuba-diving experience.

A myriad of surprises waits beneath the bewitchingly blue sea. The waters teem with a wealth of marine life and corals, and the good visibility makes it ideal for snorkelling and diving. At the Marine Park Centre friendly wrasses, sergeant majors and breams swarm around snorkelers. Divers can look forward to thrilling encounters with black-tip sharks. Rare giant clams and hawksbill turtles too have been sighted here.

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Places to Travel

 Sabah is home to the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world.  Malaysia has 65,877km of highway. This is more than the Earth’s circumference of 40,075km  There are more than 60 sub-ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak.  The largest undivided leaf in the world, Alocasia macrorrhiza, comes from Sabah. A specimen found in 1966 was 3.02 meters long and 1.92 meters wide.  Malaysia is home to 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees, more than 200 species of mammals, 600 species of birds, 140 species of snakes and 60 species of lizards.  Malaysia is the only country that has land on both continental Asia and the Malay archipelago.  Malaysia has 9 distinct reigning royal families, the highest in the world.  The tropical rainforest of Malaysia are the mother of all rainforests. At 130 million years, they are even older than the tropical forests of the Amazon and Congo Basins.

Fun Facts about Malaysia

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When you travel abroad, the odds are you will have a safe and incident-free trip.

Travellers can, however, become victims of crime and violence, or experience unexpected difficulties. We have prepared the following travel tips to help you avoid serious difficulties during your time abroad. We wish you a safe and wonderful internship!

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End Note