How far can your Malaysian Passport take you?

 Holding a Malaysian is a certification for that of a Malaysian citizen or one certified to stay in the country. A Malaysian passport can allow the holder to gain access to several countries without the requirement of a visa.

There are a few limitations where Malaysians are denied access to and one of these are Israel where Malaysians are completely barred from entering.

According to the Henley and Partners visa restrictions index, Malaysia's passport ranked 12^th for being slightly more versatile for traversing several countries without the need to apply for a visa.

Here are a few of the countries that Malaysians can enter without much hassle. The link below leads to an official online document that provides a detailed list for countries that allow visa-free travel or countries that requires a visa.

http://www.kln.gov.my/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=225808&folderId=231025&name=DLFE-1922.pdf

For Malaysians planning to travel overseas to another country, do check out the link and check for the requirements of the travel destination country. Therefore, till the next time, we wish everyone to have safe and wonderful travels no mattter where one is.

Why is the Ringgit called the Ringgit? :

The Malaysian currency is called a unique name that is different from the 'Dollar' name that a lot of countries use. It is called the 'Ringgit' and it's currency code is 'MYR'. The name means  'jagged' in the Malay language which referred to the serrated edge of Spanish notes that were circulated in the country back then.

The currency is issued by the national bank of Malaysia called Bank Negara Malaysia. The abbreviation for the currency is coded as 'RM' which signifies 'Ringgit Malaysia'. It's history dates back to June 2, 1967; where Bank Negara Malaysia issued the notes to replace the Malaya and British Borneo dollar on par.

The denominations currently as of 2016 are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Ringgit notes. The images below are a specimen of how they look like.

The coins are called 'Sen' in Malay or 'Cents' in English. The coins are denominated to be  5, 10, 20, 50 cents. These can be counted to be 10 sen = 1/10 of 1 Ringgit.

After the issuing of the notes back in 1967, Malaysia adopted a free-floating currency trading policy abut 2.50 compared to the US Dollar. The Ringgit has devalued from 2.50 to 3.80 on the exchange trades by the end of 1997. The currency has continued to devalue until this day and has fluctuate unstably for quite while. 

Currently, the median exchange rate is 1 USD to 4 MYR and 1 EURO to 4.5 MYR. That being said, we hope that these information will help anyone heading to the Malaysia for holidays. Be sure to have your notes exchanged before your trip but no worries if you fail to do so on a sudden trip as the international airports do accept a variety of currencies. Till next time, safe travels eveyone!!

Top 5 Slangs to learn when travelling to Malaysia

On the way

Usually used when you’re late for a formal event or a meeting session with friends. No matter what are you doing when the question is asked ( even still at home), Malaysians tend to use this 3 words to answer. A lot of times it is continued by Malaysians saying “ X minutes ah…”

Example:

A: Why so late? Everybody waiting for you , you know ?

B: On the way…on the way… 5 more minutes..!!

Cincai

The word “ cincai” literally means whatever. Malaysians use this word frequently when they are reluctant to make a choice or just to continue a conversation.

Example:

A: Where you want to eat today ?

B: Cincai lah.. Up to you…

Walao / Walao Eh

This phrase is often to describe the feeling of surprise or disbelief. Often, it is followed by a demanding question regarding the topic which strikes disbelief.

Example:

A: So sorry, I forgot to buy your share of tickets for the movie..

B: Walaoeh, How can you invite for the movie and forgot to buy my share leh ?

Tapau

Perhaps one of the most useful slang when it comes to travelers when buying food in Malaysia. “Tapau” means to take away servings of food.

Example：

A：Can I tapau a packet of Chicken Rice ?

That's why lah

The phrase literally translates into "that explains it" in proper English. Often used when Malaysians want to make a quick reasoning about something.

Example :

A: Oops..I’m being late again, coz’ stuck in the heavy traffic

B: That’s’ why lah.. always ask you to go out earlier but you don’t listen.