This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 18, 2023 - September 24, 2023
Expatriates often find plenty to love about living in Malaysia. The warm hospitality extended by locals makes them feel welcomed by society.
One of the most appealing factors is the nation’s unique blend of vibrant cultures and ethnicity, which produces a diverse and enriching melting pot.
In conjunction with Malaysia Day, City & Country spoke with 10 expats about making Malaysia their second home, what they like most about living here and, most importantly, what we can do to make it an even better place to live in.
George Aveling
business owner and adjunct professor at Unitar International University
Australian living in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
My wife is Malaysian, and we met in university. We settled down in Perth for many years after I graduated, until I started my own business and expanded to Malaysia. We decided to move to Malaysia in 2005 to build my career, as I was also appointed adjunct professor at Unitar International University.
We have been staying in Bangsar since the very first day we settled down in Malaysia in 2005. We chose this place for its strategic location and easy accessibility. We also like it for being a mature and established neighbourhood where everything is close by. We are happy that we made the right choice because I seriously cannot find anything I dislike about living in Bangsar, except for the traffic during peak hours. I reckon, however, it is a common problem in all the mature areas of Kuala Lumpur.
I get asked quite often what I love about Malaysia. Of the many amazing things I love about living in Malaysia, I summarised them as “colour”. Malaysia is a multicultural, multilingual and multiracial country that can spoil you with choices for almost everything — food, scenery, festivals, culture, you name it. The country is unique in that it allows you to experience different cultures in one single day, in different parts of one city.
I really enjoy a day trip to Melaka. I love how rich the cultural colour of the vintage little city is. I love Melaka partly because my parents are Dutch and were born and raised in Indonesia, and the Dutch colonial architecture buildings in town remind me of my parents.
Malaysia is a hidden gem. It has so much to offer but is not well promoted, especially in tourism. It has very good potential to outrun the neighbouring countries to become an international tourist destination. But the government really needs a good and consistent plan for promoting the country.
Gina Bai
Housewife
Chinese living in Desa ParkCity, Kuala Lumpur
My husband and I ran businesses in Russia for many years. We have always wanted to find a warmer place and a better environment to raise our three children. My friends told us about the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, and we made our first visit here in 2012. We were happy with the environment and decided to move here under MM2H in 2013.
We first settled down in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. A year later, we moved to Desa ParkCity for its impressive, all-inclusive master plan. We have been staying here since then.
I like Malaysia for its weather. It is also the main reason we moved here. I like it because it could be misty and cooling in the early morning and evening, while you get sunlight throughout the day.
I also like how well the buildings are maintained and preserved here in Malaysia. For most of the places in Malaysia that I’ve been to, even though the buildings were old, they were very well maintained, clean and neat.
As a mother of three, education is very important to me. I am grateful that we made the right decision to move here because my children enjoy studying here compared with their cousins in China. It is very competitive in China, where most of the children have to sacrifice their childhood for a good ranking on the report card.
Talking about go-to vacation spots, Sabah is my family’s favourite. We visit the state every year for its stunning beaches and islands. My children are divers, and they appreciate the world’s best dive sites there, while I really enjoy the heaven-like scenery there.
Malaysia will be a better place to live in if it were a more efficient country, especially in the way that local authorities process and handle things.
Vineeth Vijayan
solutions architect
Indian living in KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur
Originally from Kerala, I have been living in Malaysia for the past seven years. I came here to work in the IT sector because of the amazing opportunities I had heard about. Malaysia has a thriving tech industry, which I am excited to be a part of.
At first, I stayed in Damansara Perdana in Petaling Jaya but, later, my family moved here to join me, and we relocated to KL Sentral. I took many things into consideration when I made this decision, from access to efficient public transport and good schools for my son to a diverse range of available cuisines.
It was in Malaysia that I discovered my love for hiking and other outdoor activities; Malaysia’s nature is one-of-a-kind. For example, Langkawi has beautiful beaches contrasted with high-range mountains. I will always fondly recall island-hopping with my family as we explored those lovely landscapes.
I have lived and worked in countries such as the Czech Republic and the UK, but Malaysia feels like home. Perhaps it’s because of the Malaysian-Indian community, but I have never felt like an outsider here.
Malaysia’s multiculturalism is what makes the country even more unique. I believe that learning the nuances of the different traditions practised by various ethnicities and religions will further bolster this relationship.
Octavia Salim
housewife
Indonesian living in Kota Damansara, Selangor
I first came to Malaysia to study. I chose Malaysia for its affordable living costs and tuition fees. It is also very near my home country. After I graduated, I decided to stay on to look for a job in the local area, but have had no luck. Just when I decided to go home, I met my boyfriend, who is now my husband. We got together and decided to get married and settle down in Malaysia because we both agreed that Malaysia is a better place to raise a family.
I moved with my husband to Kota Damansara, Selangor, after we got married. It is a very convenient neighbourhood to get around in, as it is well connected by public transport stations. The feeder bus to the MRT station is a stone’s throw away from my current home. I have a driving licence, but I always prefer to take public transport.
Like many expats, food is our favourite thing about living in Malaysia. Not only can I find my taste of home here, but I have also explored many unique local foods and good-quality international cuisines. I also love the environment; it is clean and safe. I can travel alone without worrying too much here. I mean, crime happens in all countries but, in the years I have stayed in Malaysia, I have felt pretty safe.
Another thing that I appreciate about living in Malaysia is the free education up to secondary school. In many countries, including Indonesia, we don’t have free education. I also like the concept of how inclusive the schools here in Malaysia are, where children from different backgrounds get to study at the same school.
My favourite go-to vacation spot in Malaysia would be Johor. There are many hidden spots in the state. The capital, Johor Bahru, is a bustling city, but the vibe is different from Kuala Lumpur. It is more laid-back, so the trip to Johor Bahru will always be a relaxing one.
To make Malaysia a better place to live in, the government really needs to drive economic growth to make it a high-income country. It is true that inflation is a global issue, but I feel the gap between the inflation rate and Malaysia’s income level is getting too far apart, making living in Malaysia, especially in the city centre, more difficult.
Emmanuel
househusband
Kenyan living in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
Years ago, I was a student at Mahsa University. At the time, I had no real plans to stay in Malaysia after my studies, but then I met the woman who later became my wife. Both my wife and our daughter, now one year old, are Malaysians, and they are the main reason I settled down here.
We are now living in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. I value spending quality time with my family, and having my in-laws live nearby was a huge plus for us to settle down in Bukit Jalil. Also, the neighbourhood is close to various amenities such as shopping malls, services and public transport, making it convenient to live here.
One of my favourite things about Malaysia is the wide selection of delicious cuisines it offers — not just the local food but also cuisines from different countries. In addition, I appreciate the warmth and generosity of the locals, as well as the emphasis on family in the local culture.
If I were to highlight my favourite place in Malaysia, I would choose Genting Highlands. It is a great vacation spot because not only is the weather very pleasant, but there are also many exciting things to do there with my family.
My hope for Malaysia is for the country to continue striving to maintain the current level of national strength and prosperity by investing in and protecting families, communities and individuals.
Nuha
student
Maldivian living in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur
I came to Malaysia for my studies. I felt there were several opportunities available for a range of experiences here, whether as a student, foodie or professional.
Initially, I was here to do my diploma, but since then, I have decided to return to read for my degree and my master’s. I chose my area of residence in Damansara because it’s close to an MRT station. This makes it easy for me to explore the city, attend classes and run daily errands such as grocery shopping.
The warm weather agrees with me and my sunny Maldivian background. But more than that, the people are generous, friendly and welcoming here. I am also in love with the wide variety of foods, which is absolutely amazing (I gain 5kg to 10kg every time I come here!). I have a lot of love for Penang in particular; it is my favourite spot. I love the island feel, the amazing hiking trails and, most of all, the food.
Malaysia is so beautiful and has such a diverse ecosystem that must be protected. Adopting more climate-forward approaches to the transport system in the country is necessary for its future.
Tania Hsu
housewife
Taiwanese living in Subang Jaya, Selangor
My Malaysian husband and I attended the same university in Taiwan. We got married and worked in Taiwan for a few years before moving back to my husband’s hometown in Klang, Selangor, in 2005 to build his career. We moved to Subang Jaya a few years later, mainly because it was nearer his office.
Apart from the food and culture, I really enjoy making new friends in Malaysia. I never really feel like I’m an outsider living here because Malaysians are friendly and they can easily accept who you are, regardless of where you are from or your background. I think it has something to do with the multicultural and multiracial environment.
I love outdoor activities, and enjoy the islands and hiking trails here. My favourite island is Pulau Perhentian, while my go-to trail is Taman Tugu in the city centre.
Like the tourism slogan says, Malaysia is truly Asia because it is a melting pot of all Asian cultures. It has so much more to offer, but people know very little about it. Together with the private sector, the government should be the engine to take the helm and organise more meaningful international events to show the beauty of the country.
Janet Foo
retiree
Briton living in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur
I met my husband in the UK while he was studying at university, and we had our first daughter in 1977. When my husband finished his degree, he couldn’t land a job in the UK and thus had to return to Malaysia.
In 1978, I moved to my husband’s hometown — Kota Bharu, Kelantan — and we eventually moved to Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur. My family is the reason I have decided to stay in Malaysia since 1978, occasionally returning to the UK to visit other relatives.
We chose to stay in Taman Desa because it is the centre of everything: 10 minutes to Bangsar, 15 minutes to KL city centre, and 15 minutes to Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Petaling Jaya without traffic. We are also close to other family members who live in Taman Desa and OUG.
The thing that I love most about living in Malaysia is the food. There are tonnes of flavourful food here. My favourites are roti canai, rendang, bak kut teh and Hokkien mee. I also love the people and hospitality here, where most of the people are friendly and kind.
My go-to vacation spot in Malaysia is none other than Batu Ferringhi in Penang. The island offers good food and a relaxing beach. Most importantly, it is only a five-hour car ride from Kuala Lumpur.
I hope Malaysia will be more open to ideas from others and not change the laws to suit the government in power, which would create confusion and instability. Malaysia will be an even better place to live in if it had a more welcoming and easier environment for foreign spouses to live a stress-free family life.
Rhadd Hunt
retiree
American living in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur
Following the 2004 tsunami, my home in Thailand was destroyed. That tragedy led me to move here and, in the beginning, Malaysia’s 90-day visa was more appealing than Thailand’s 30-day visa. I have realised a myriad of reasons to stay in Malaysia since then and, today, Malaysia is my new home.
One reason that stands out is the fact that Kuala Lumpur is an amazing travel hub. This means I live close to the best of everything Malaysia has to offer: amazing food, reasonable cost of living, and very, very friendly people. In particular, I chose to reside in Segambut based on its ease of access to the rest of the city while being able to avoid a lot of the locations with the heaviest traffic.
Aside from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, I also enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Cameron Highlands and Fraser’s Hill when I need to get away from the heat. I have also learnt that Kuching, Melaka and Ipoh are great spots for food getaways. The reason is, in my opinion, the diversity of people and cuisines, resulting in a culinary fusion unique to Malaysia.
In that vein, Malaysia’s multiethnic and multireligious tapestry lies at the core of the country’s appeal. Malaysia’s greatest strength is its people — ALL of its people.
Nguyen Minh Thuy
housewife
Vietnamese living in Mont’Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
My first visit to Malaysia was in 2016. It was a four-month working trip assigned by my company based in Hanoi. I was staying in Cyberjaya for four months. I got to know my boyfriend (now husband) on the trip, but we were just friends back then until we reconnected in 2019 and confirmed our relationship. In 2020, we decided to get married and settle down in Kuala Lumpur.
My husband has always stayed in Mont’Kiara, so I moved in after we got married. Compared with Cyberjaya, Mont’Kiara is busier, but it is very convenient; I can get everything done even if I don’t drive. However, I also like Cyberjaya because it has more green spaces; but if you stay there, you will need a car to get around.
I love Malaysia for its food. You can get all kinds here. My favourite place to dine is none other than the local kopitiam, where you can try a variety of food in one place!
The second thing I like about living in Malaysia is the cultural diversity. Malaysia is a melting pot; you can find something that makes you feel at home no matter if you are originally from a Western, Asian or Middle Eastern country. There is no other place like Malaysia.
Third would be the weather. I am from a place that has four seasons a year, and summer is my least favourite. However, the summer here in Malaysia is very different from others. It is hot sometimes, but not too humid. I guess it is why Malaysians love steamboats and hotpot even though it is summer all year long.
I haven’t visited many places in Malaysia because of the pandemic, but I enjoy staycations in the city. It’s a foreign country to me, so there are many places for me to discover, even within the city where I live.
Kuala Lumpur’s downtown is one of my favourite places because it is a mix of modern and beautiful colonial buildings. I think the best way to explore a new place is to walk around. Kuala Lumpur is not a 100% walkable city, though, because of the many ongoing construction projects. As much as I wish to explore the city on foot, many places are not walkable because there is no proper pedestrian path or shade.
Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.
P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's App Store and Android's Google Play.