Are you coming up on retirement in a few years or already retired ? Do you have an adventurous spirit and decent health ? Would you like to speak English in a foreign country while enjoying low prices, great weather and awesome food? Malaysia could be the place you've been dreaming about.  If you're not familiar with it, Malaysia is situated on the lower part of the Malay peninsula, just north of Singapore.  East Malaysia is situated on the northern third or so of Borneo – about 400 miles east of the mainland.  Peninsular Malaysia is more developed, with all of the major cities, and East Malaysia is where you will find large expanses of jungle, many rivers, and some of the best diving in Southeast Asia.  Most retirees would probably find Peninsular Malaysia more convenient for living, and East Malaysia good for occasional visits. Malaysia was a British colony until 1957, and has existed in it's present form since 1963.  English is spoken widely, although many other languages are spoken as well – various dialects of Chinese, Tamil (a south Indian language), Malayalam (another South Indian Language) and the national language, Bahasa Malaysia.  In practical terms you can get along fine just about everywhere with English.   The national religion is Islam, although there are also many Hindus, Chinese Temple devotees, Christians, Buddhists, and even Sikhs.  Malaysia is one of the most open Muslim countries, and religious tolerance has been a tradition since it's founding.  Be sure to remove your shoes when entering most religious buildings, as a sign of respect.  The local cuisine is quite varied – Malay food, many kinds of Chinese food (most of which you've probably never had in the US), Indian food (south Indian, north Indian, Muslim, etc).  Two coasts make for plentiful and cheap seafood.  Until recently the local currency, the Ringgit, was pegged to the dollar, 3.8 to the dollar.  This made most things a great bargain.  The peg was loosened up, but prices are still very reasonable for most things, apart from alcohol, cars, and luxury goods, which are a bit expensive.  It's not uncommon to have a wonderful meal of Chinese or Indian food at a good restaurant for $4, often even less.  A 2-star hotel room for $25 a night. Or a cheap – but still entirely adequate- hotel room for $10 a night. There are loads of factories in Malaysia, and many manufactured goods are quite cheap.  You will also find goods from many other parts of Asia, sold very inexpensively.  Some of these products are knock-offs of luxury brands, sold for nothing, particularly on Petaling Street in Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, the capitol.  Things like knock-off Rolex watches for $10.

RESOURCE LINKS FOR MALAYSIA About Moving to Malaysia A selection of the most relevant directories and resource web sites related to living and working in Malaysia. Articles On Living & Investing in Malaysia Articles On Living & Investing in Malaysia. Banks in Malaysia See banks of Malaysia at our Banks of Asia section. Books On Living In Malaysia A selection of books related to finding employment in Malaysia and resources for living in Malaysia. Includes selected cultural and travel books for Malaysia. Malaysia: Economy & Business Including real estate and banks. Embassies Resources for Malaysia Embassy websites of Malaysia Embassies around the world. Embassies of other nations to Malaysia - All new and updated daily with websites & addresses to Embassies & Consulates. Malaysia: Internet, Media, & Travel A concise page of links - travel, news, and some web directories of Malaysia. Jobs In Malaysia A directory of job resources for Malaysia - We also have sections on ESL & overseas teaching jobs on our directory. Malaysia Hospitals Hospitals Around The World by Region. Maps of Malaysia Maps of Malaysia - Our own Embassy maps plus a large number of differing Malaysia maps, also including city maps. Newspapers & Media of Malyasia Media & News Resources for Malaysia Newspapers, magazines, online resources and news channels with current Malaysia information. Real Estate In Malaysia Real Estate In Malaysia - Current real estate listings of properties in Malaysia. . This Report aims to help the reader achieve a smooth transition to a new life in the Kingdom

Why Retire in Malaysia ?
For starters, it isn't that necessary to speak the local language (Bahasa Malaysia) – English is widely spoken. Y ou should pick up some of the language, but most people speak at least some English.

Malaysia seems to welcome foreign retirees, with one of the best retiree programs around- Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H – see below for details).  You don't have to be rich to qualify, you can buy a home without spending a fortune, and it's not expensive to apply for MM2H.
Malaysia is more expensive than some other neighboring countries, but it's also a lot more convenient and stable – with good infrastructure, decent health care system, good transport system, large selection of furnished rental housing, and a very stable economy.  Tourists are in evidence but you won't be overwhelmed by them.  If you get a little bored, you can hop on an inexpensive Air Asia flight and visit Thailand, Bali, or Vietnam, or take a ferry to Sumatra. 

Crime is very low, and violent crime is rare. Malaysia has had a civilian government for ages, and good economic management.  The country isn't perfect, but once the honeymoon is over you will probably find yourself with fewer complaints about the place than just about any other place you could retire in Asia. 

Best Places to Live
Kuala Lumpur
KL as it's known to the locals is a city of 2 million people, very modern, lots of high rise office buildings and apartment blocks.  The city bus system is good, there is also an elevated tram system that goes to many parts of the city. South of the city about 50 miles is their new international airport.

For a large Asian city, Kuala Lumpur is almost restful – someone used to living in a city would probably find it very easy to live in.  Malaysia might still be termed a developing country, but you have to look for the underdeveloped parts in KL.  Even the central areas around the main bus station are easy to negotiate, and very convenient. 

Melaka
Melaka is a very historic city on the west coast roughly half way between KL and Singapore.  It attracts quite a few tourists because of the historic areas, the ruins of the forts, the meandering streets of the Chinatown, the canals, and the museums.  If you're looking for a city with visual appeal that isn't so big, it's worth checking out.

Johor Baru
JB as the locals know it. JB is just opposite Singapore across the causeway. JB would probably appeal to people who want to be close to Singapore, the night life, shopping, sights, etc, without paying Singapore prices. If you live in central JB it's only 20 minutes to Singapore – you do have to pass through passport control, but it's generally pretty routine. Lots of people who live in JB cross over every day to work in Singapore.

West Coast Islands
Penang 
The island and the state it is in have the same name, so don't get confused.  Georgetown is the main city on the island.  Georgetown is a crowded and bustling place, but probably has as much character as anywhere in Malaysia.  It's full of temples, old Chinese shop buildings, alleyways, hole-in-the wall restaurants and atmosphere.  If you're looking for peace and quiet it might not appeal to you, but you might find some other place on the island that has what you want.

Langkawi 
This island lies in far northern Malaysia, just south of the border with Thailand.  Many resorts have been built in recent years, but the interior is still relatively unspoiled.  You won't find the atmosphere here that Georgetown has, but you can still see quite a bit of the old kampung (village) life. 

East Coast Islands
Tioman Island is the main island destination in the southern part of the East Coast.  Remember the movie South Pacific?  It was filmed there, albeit a long time ago.  You might be surprised to know that it's still a bit of an island paradise, and not hard to get to.  Being on the East Coast means that you're insulated from any tsunamis that might affect the West Coast (Malaysia had relatively little damage from the tsunami in 2004, and most of that damage was confined to the northern West Coast islands).

The Malaysian government doesn't allow large scale development on the East Coast islands (or at any rate hasn't up until now).  No mega resorts or multi-story hotels.  If you're looking for luxury hotels you won't find much to choose from, but if a beach chalet with a front porch and a hammock within 50 feet of the water is your style, this could be your place. 

On most of the island there are no cars, and the usual way to get to the island is via ferry from Mersing on the coast, although you can get a flight from Singapore.

Other Places Worth A Look
Kuantan is a pleasant smaller city on the East Coast.  Just north of town are some pretty beaches, and a number of tourist restaurants and hotels strung out for several miles.  It's all pretty low-key, mostly popular with Malaysians.
Kuching is the largest city in Sarawak, in East Malaysia.  It's energetic and somewhat laid back at the same time, with lots of colonial-era buildings in evidence.  It's a short flight from peninsular Malaysia, and also keep in mind that the visa rules are different for East Malaysia – visitors from the US are generally given 30 days.
 

A No-Nonsense Expats Guide to Asian Sales and Marketing - Peter Levenda says:'I have spent more than 25years in China trade and Asian sales and marketing generally, and am based in Kuala Lumpur where I have been for 7 years now. I've set up a number of American and European companies out here, and have had great success at doing it, so I know that what I have to say will be of interest to anyone who has an interest in entering the Asian market. I focus on the day-to-day aspects of running a foreign office from a Stateside or European location, how to handle business meetings, establish distribution channels, deal with "entertainment" and the inescapable phenomenon of the bribe. This report is a compliation of 20 years of first hand experience.  yourself!'

Special Retirement Program
Malaysia My Second Home is the name of the program the Malaysian government has instituted to bring foreign retirees to settle in Malaysia.  You have to apply and qualify, but once you do, you obtain  certain rights, like a 5-year multiple entry visa, and the right to purchase up to two residential units.

Many companies in Malaysia are licensed to assist you with qualifying for the program, paperwork, etc.  If you do choose to use a company to assist you, make sure they have a license to do so.
The Malysian government web site for information on MM2H (as it's abbreviated) is : http://www.MM2H.motour.gov.my/cms/index.php?n=en

To qualify for the program, you have to meet the following general criteria :
*If you're over 50 years old, you must open a deposit in the amount of 150,000  Ringit, Or show an income of at least 10,000 Ringit a month (for couples).  For a single person, the amounts are 100,000 Ringit or 7,000 a month.
*If you're under 50,  you must deposit 300,000 Ringit, AND show an income of 10,000 Ringit per month (couple).  For a single person the amounts are 150,000 AND 7,000 per month.  These amounts could change in the future, so check the above web site for exact details when you want to apply.  You should also note that you may be allowed to withdraw money after the first year from your deposit in order to purchase a house.  You are allowed to purchase up to two residential units, provided they cost at least 250,000 Ringit.

At the time of writing, there were 3.515 Ringit to the dollar.
You should also to note that under this program you aren't allowed to work, and you can't operate a local business.  You are allowed to be a non-active investor in a Malaysian business. 

In general it can be hard to settle in an Asian country, but this program gives you the option of living somewhere inexpensive, and really enjoying life without making a lot of sacrifices.  They do seem to want retirees to settle in Malaysia – you will probably feel very welcome, as long as you show respect for the local culture.

Getting Around
There is an extensive bus system covering all major cities, and most smaller towns as well.  Service seems to be generally on time and fares are reasonable.  Buses are adequate for most travel, since it's not a large country – unless you're visiting East Malaysia, no bus routes over the 
water !
Train service is available mostly on the north-south routes in Peninsular Malaysia.
Flights within the country are frequent and cheap – especially if you fly on Air Asia.  Air Asia also flys to many nearby countries in Asia – they often have sales, and a great web site – www.AirAsia.com.
Ferry service to the islands is usually good, although on the East coast you should be aware that the water can be pretty bumpy in the monsoon season. 
Regardless of how you travel in Malaysia standards are pretty good, you shouldn't run into any real difficulties in getting around.

Weather
Malaysia is a tropical country, with high humidity year round.  The monsoon season generally runs from December to March, and hits the East Coast hardest- although rain is year round.  It can be very hot in northern Malaysia in the summer, and temperatures in the low-lying areas generally reach into the low 90sF at their hottest.

Safety
Crime is very low in Malaysia, few areas could be considered unsafe, even in the larger cities.  Drugs are best avoided completely, since the penalties for possession are severe.

Coming For A Visit
An excellent reference book for a first visit is The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.  It contains maps of all the major cities, information on hotels, restaurants, tourist sites, bus routes, etc. You can find it at most larger bookstores, or on Amazon or some of the other on-line booksellers.

The best way to arrive by air is either via Singapore, or the new international airport near Kuala Lumpur.  A high speed rail line connects the airport near KL to the city, travel time under an hour.  Flying in to Singapore can be a good option, sometimes there are better connections and tickets may be less expensive.  Regardless, after the long flight you will want to take it easy for a day or two.

US citizens are generally given 90 days upon arrival without getting a Visa. 

Cars in Singapore and Malaysia are driven on the left side of the road (former British colonies).  ATM machines are everywhere, as well as internet cafes.

You may think a US citizen visiting a Muslim country might experience some ill will, but if you show respect for the local cultures and religions it should rarely be a problem.  The main everyday sign that this is an Islamic country is the head scarf that observant Muslim women wear, and the sound of the call to prayer from the Mosques.

Who Would Like Living Here?
People who want a little adventure in their retirement years, while still enjoying a decent standard of living.  People who enjoy trying new foods – Malay, all sorts of Indian food, all sorts of Chinese food, fresh seafood all year.  People who want more freedom in their retirement years than they could find in the states – freedom to be outdoors all year, freedom to learn new things, freedom to spend their money on things besides heating bills and health insurance.  People who have decent health and who want to keep it that way by being active and curious.  People who don't have to work in retirement to make ends meet – and you will find it even easier here, since so many things are inexpensive. People who like a low maintenance lifestyle.  People who want to live in a foreign country with a very low hassle factor.  Once you adjust to life you might wonder why you waited so long.

Who Would Dislike Living Here?
If you have to be close to the States, where you can get back every month or two, Malaysia probably isn't the best idea – it's a long flight from the States.  If you don't like living among many different cultures it wouldn't be good – it's a very diverse place.  If you would feel uncomfortable living in a tolerant, but still Islamic country.  If you like to drink alcohol on a daily basis – it's expensive, unless you go to the duty free zones on some of the islands.  People who have to work in retirement to make ends meet – you aren't allowed to do that here (although you can always work via the internet, if that's an option).  People who want to live exactly like they do in the States – that sort of lifestyle isn't available here.