Working in Malaysia

[craig r]

Right, SWMBO has been offered a job in Kuala Lumpur, something to do with sales/customer service, they aren't giving away much information, just asking her if she would work overseas. She would like to know more about KL / Malaysia in general. Wikipedia and tourist sites are good for facts and figures, but don't really tell you anything about what life is like over there.

So, good people of PH, have you worked / spent any length of time in KL and how was it?

~ Craig

[Exoticaholic]

craig r said:

Right, SWMBO has been offered a job in Kuala Lumpur, something to do with sales/customer service, they aren't giving away much information, just asking her if she would work overseas. She would like to know more about KL / Malaysia in general. Wikipedia and tourist sites are good for facts and figures, but don't really tell you anything about what life is like over there.

So, good people of PH, have you worked / spent any length of time in KL and how was it?

~ Craig

My ex-partner is living there - moved in 2005 as a result of a work transfer. I will ask him for his thoughts and provide you feedback at one point. But in two words: managed chaos.

[rog007]

Exoticaholic said:

But in two words: managed chaos.

Or in three words; still an opportunity! http://www.mier.org.my/outlook/

[AJS-]

I didn't like Malaysia all that much, but I have only ever been there a couple of times for short trips. Seems to have all the grime and chaos of Thailand with none of the charm underneath.

I would ask in the Asia forum though as a few people in there either live in Malaysia or go there regularly from Singapore.

[fido]

My parents came from Malaysia, and go back there on holiday very occasionally. They don't rate it very highly either - unless you want the 'experience' there are nicer places to work with similar climates. It is very cheap to eat out, and the food is great, hence no one bothers with cooking.

[craig r]

Thanks for the replies - more useful than wikipedia!

I will ask in the Asia section, now I know there is one!

~ Craig

[SLCZ3]

It is quite a few years since i worked over there but i have been back with my wife and daughter to see the wife"s family a number of times.
Kuala Lumper is no longer the pleasent slightly sleepy place it used to be, think of the city in Blade runner and that is how it comes across to me to some degree now, very noisy, very polluted.
Penang Island and particularly Ferringhi beach area is over built, and expensive!!! for decent hotels. So much so that my wife intends to relinquish her Malaysian nationality, so that may tell you something.
The population is in the majority Malay and chinese, with the remainder Indian and mixed race.
Insist on knowing full detail about the job and who will sort out transport/car/accomodation/local tax etc. Currently the exchange rate is about £1 to 5 MYR.
In contrast there are some very pleasent areas, from what i understand Pangkor Laut resort is not too commercialised, and Tioman Island is reported to be good/Cherating beach still has some of its original charm left.
There is an amazing choice of local food, generally quite cheap if you care to sit at the local Makan stalls, but watch out for some of the Indian tea sellers, some of the ingrediants are a bit suspect, oh and be aware that prohibited drug use/dealing/possesion is punishable by death!!!!!!

[markbigears]

and as soon as you step outside, you need another shower. Don't try the black bean crab, it will take a week to wash off your fingers... so the wife tells me And the best fake watches are not on show, but under the counter.