Sunday, February 1, 2009

What is it like to live in Malaysia for teenagers


What is it like to live in Malaysia for teenagers?
How good is the education system? Is it expensive to live there? What is there to do? What are the laws about bringing pets into the country if you are migrating there? Anything else there is to know?
Malaysia - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Malaysia is a mostly muslim country , 60% with around 19% buddhist. If you are going to one of the more wealthier parts there should not be much of a problem or major difference.
2 :
i thinks life as a teenager in malaysia is pretty much the same as in the rest of the world...the primary n secondary school education are ok depending on the schools.some schools have very high education level whereas some don't. the tertiary education system in private colleges and universities are really good but then again it depends where you are studying at. it's not expensive to live here however the living cost in the city is a lil higher. i'm not sure about bringing pets but i think if your pet is medically checked and is ok then u shouldn't have any problem.if you've any other questions, please feel free to mail me.
3 :
It can be fun for teenagers. Education system is fair. Nope, not expensive. Lots of stuff to do in the cities. Shouldn't have problems bringing in pets. Don't bring drugs into the country - its a death sentence.
4 :
Malaysia is in two parts, Peninsular Malaysia (in the South of Thailand) and East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. I suppose you talk about Peninsular Malaysia, which is indeed a mostly Muslim country but you will find many private international schools so your children should not mis out on anything. If you send them to a public school - forget it, besides the medium of instruction is almost exclusively the national language, Malay (easy to learn though). There are a couple of expat forums on the internet, I don't have the URL but try to google for "Malaysia Expat," I think you can even contact expats there (I am on Borneo, no children, so not really the person to ask...). Malaysia is not very expensive but it always depends on your requirements. As an expat you should get a good salary (RM 10000 and more), which is much higher than the national average of around RM800-1500 on Peninsular Malaysia, and RM350-600 on Borneo. But we live with it - quality of life is great. If you are in a major town, or even in the capital, you will probably find that life is much like you know it, or at least you can find just about anything you might need, from your regular food over branded clothing to modern sporting articles etc. There are gyms, sports club, cinemas, libraries, malls, pubs and clubs, great national parks & wildlife etc. Tip: don't stick to your known foods, go also for Chinese, Indian and Malay food, eating (and eating out) is very important for Malaysians and food is really good wherever you go! Your last question I have no answer but I trust someone will shortly be able to give more information. I only know from the airport that you cannot just bring in animals (even plants with soil etc) so I presume they are pretty strict and you might not do your pet any good to take it along with you. It might sound heartless but it is probably better you leave your pet with someone you know and who takes loving care of your animal rather than ship it through months long quarantaine where you don't know who looks after your pet, and where also many animals die. For an overview of Malaysia, political, racial, historical go to the wipikedia link in the first post, very good information! Herman, Sabah
5 :
Well, Effendi already answered most of the stuff. Just replying to the pet question. My dad had a cat when he was studying in a university in the US and he brought the cat back with him when he came home. So I assume it shouldn't be a problem to bring your pet along. vivi, Selangor.
6 :
you can bring any pets as long as they are not dogs or pigs !
7 :
If you're a rich teen, then its fun i guess. You can bring dogs to Malaysia, just do some paper work. If you wanna get good education, its usually international schools, you have to sacrifice some cash though. Public schools are a no-no, its a waste of time. If you're thinking of living in Kuala Lumpur, you're gonna be living paycheck by paycheck. A more peaceful city would be Penang or Ipoh. When coming to Malaysia remember 3 things: Snatch Thieves Rude People (like me) Money I hope that helps.
8 :
Well to answer your question, are you planning to send your kid to a government or private school & which city are you planning to settle down. I grew up in various cities around Malaysia. I can tell you this, Malaysia is a religious nation on the cover. The government uses it for its political gain. If you kid isn't wise enough, he/she might have a skewed view of the world with influences from the outside. Its hard to explain. Take for example that Malaysia especially the Malays have a big chip on their shoulder with regards to Singapore. You hardly hear anything clever when you talk to them about Singapore. Hell, I have even heard that the island is going to sink because it has too many buildings. (I use to live in JB). Why you say?. History & fear of loss culture & land to the minority. On the plus side, there isn't a lot of crime or drug problems as you have in the west. The education system is tough & decent. But like the US there is affirmative action so its easier for the select to get into universities or get their choice degrees with a lower score. Unless you plan for the kid to go to university back where you are from, you are in for a rude awakening. Also you have to know for a teenager to move to a new country, its a cultural shock or mega proportions. You are able to adjust because as an adult you realize this is your decision. For a kid, this is something is forced onto them & if they have a torrid time at school, it could be very difficult for them plus remember you are a foreigner so if in the end you are planning to move to a city other than Kuala Lumpur, there are going to be a lot of immature kids out there.
9 :
Although malaysians are okay with their system, I think they should use the American system of education. Much better and much more fair and people learn more.






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