Your Expat Community in Malaysia

Find Out More about Being an Expat in Malaysia

Malaysia's peninsula has Malay, Indian and Chinese influences, so is already very multicultural. The other half of Malaysia is known as East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo (the northern part of the island of Borneo), where you may find wild jungle orangutans, remote tribes, and incredible peaks — next to most of Malaysia’s natural resources. From the modern high-rise buildings and thriving street food scene in Kuala Lumpur, to the tolerant and exciting island of Penang, Malaysia is one of the most diverse Asian countries you can live in. Many expats find that the language barrier is too much of a problem when settling in Malaysia, with many city dwellers in particular speaking very good English. As the cost of living is very low, you can have an active lifestyle in Malaysia with plenty of cash to see its bubbling culture and try its exciting cuisine. Malaysia is a middle-income economy, but is aiming to achieve a high-income status by 2020. Largely known for exporting oil, gas, electronics, palm oil and rubber, Malaysia has benefited from high world energy prices, and the large urban growth in Kuala Lumpur has opened up a number of business opportunities. You may also be interested in working in the eco-sector; with over 50% of Malaysia covered in dense jungle, there is plenty of volunteer and paid work for expats in the Malaysian Borneo region.

InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities around the world. Meet fellow global minds in your city of residence or get to know local expatriates before you're moving or traveling abroad and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Qatar or Bahrain, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

Make Friends and Build Your Expat Network before You Arrive in Malaysia

Unlike other platforms, InterNations members are always checked and approved before they can become a part of our community. This ensure that InterNations remains a safe environment where friendliness, open communication, and a welcoming culture are highly valued. When your initial relocation preparation is complete, and you are all set to make the move, you might want to think about other fun things you can get involved with in the country. InterNations Malaysia has a number of interest-based groups as well as regular events taking place; try the best Malaysian food in Penang with the Penang Food Group or enjoy attending traditional and modern concerts with new expats friends in Kuala Lumpur. Whether you have a hobby that you want to continue, like hiking or cycling, or maybe you want to try something new, like dancing or diving, there is bound to be a suitable InterNations Group in Malaysia that you can sign up with. And if not, we encourage you to start your own group on InterNations! Getting together with like-minded people in a new country is an important element in making your move abroad a success. Sharing your new life with new people is invaluable, and if you get to learn some new skills at the same time, then why not?