Malaysia Country Report

Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia and is separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia to the west and Malaysian Borneo or East Malaysia to the east. A constitutional monarchy, the country's political sphere had historically been dominated by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), although its six-decade rule came to an end in May 2018 as the opposition capitalized on public discontent over rising costs and corruption scandals to secure a shock election win. In November 2022, Anwar Ibrahim, a veteran politician who has been fighting for reform and democracy for decades, was sworn in as Malaysia's 10th prime minister after forming a unity government with UMNO and other parties. Anwar faces the challenges of tackling corruption, reviving the economy, and addressing increasing polarization along racial and religious lines.

Malaysia experiences sporadic episodes of civil unrest generally driven by political issues. Ethno-religious tensions have at times resulted in street demonstrations. Malaysian authorities have developed a stable economic environment by encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI), and broad policy continuity is expected. However, corruption remains a challenge to many foreign firms conducting business in Malaysia.

The primary threats to travelers in Malaysia are petty and opportunistic crime, burglaries, and credit card fraud. Violent crimes against foreigners are rare. There are concerns over the appeal of Islamic State (IS) propaganda among self-radicalized individuals and cells loosely linked to the jihadist outfit. Sabah's eastern seaboard has been vulnerable to infiltration by suspected Philippines-based extremist groups as well as crime syndicates seeking to kidnap locals and foreigners. Malaysia has a well-developed transportation network, which is more established in Peninsular Malaysia than in East Malaysia. The same is true for health and communications infrastructure, which are also of better quality in urban locales than in rural areas.

Petty opportunistic crime represents the primary threat for travelers and expatriates in Malaysia, with frequent reports of purse snatching, pickpocketing, smash-and-grab theft and residential burglary. There have been concerns over the presence of small cells inspired predominantly by Islamic State (IS) ideology, although authorities have been largely successful in containing the limited threat they pose. Unrest occurs sporadically in Malaysia, with political divisions and racial tensions being the main triggers for demonstrations. There is a low conflict risk, with Malaysia largely maintaining good or cordial relations with its neighbors.

There are no major concerns with aviation security affecting Malaysian airlines and airports.

While the road network is generally considered good across Malaysia, driving conditions are negatively affected by frequent flouting of road regulations, heavy congestion and crime risks.

The ports are considered relatively efficient.

Power supplies are adequate and largely reliable across the country, although aging infrastructure can trigger outages and blackouts, mostly in rural areas and towns of eastern Malaysia.

Internet infrastructure and penetration rates are high in Malaysia, although this expansion has resulted in an associated increase in cyber-crime risks.

The country’s climate can be described as equatorial, characterized by year-round high temperatures and humidity levels on average of 90 per cent. Malaysia is prone to torrential downpours, particularly during the two rainy seasons, that have the potential to generate widespread flooding. Outside of the monsoon period, Malaysia frequently records potentially hazardous drops in air quality due to haze formed as a result of “slash-and-burn” agriculture. Malaysia is located in a seismically-active region, with the eastern state of Sabah the most vulnerable to potentially destructive tremors.

Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue and malaria, present the most common disease and health risks in Malaysia. The quality of healthcare services is adequate in major urban centers, but quality varies significantly in more rural areas. Cash payment is required upfront for all services. Tap water is widely available but is unsafe for consumption.

Malaysia is a relatively stable constitutional monarchy, but its political landscape continues to face challenges such as widespread corruption and crony capitalism. The rule of law in Malaysia has been negatively affected by frequent interference from political elites, with allegations of politically motivated charges being leveled against opponents, as well as powers granted to authorities to detain individuals without trial.