From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Malaysia Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 14:04:02 GMT Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1473 Path: world!eliz Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199709221007_MC2-2164-D78B@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: eliz@world.std.com (daemons) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 163 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Malaysia ============================================================ Malaysia and Singapore - Public Announcement September 19, 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman American citizens traveling to Malaysia and Singapore, particularly those with respiratory conditions, should be aware that air pollution has reached "very unhealthy" to "hazardous" levels, according to the Malaysian air pollutant index, and "moderate" to "unhealthy" levels, according to the Singapore pollutant standards index. The low air quality levels are due in part to smoke and particulates from forest fires in Indonesia and unusual environmental conditions. The government of Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Sarawak. Airports have been closed sporadically and flights delayed due to poor visibility. Travelers to Malaysia are advised by the Malaysian Ministry of Health to stay indoors, refrain from outdoor exercise, drink plenty of water, use eye wash if irritation occurs, and wear a surgical mask if they must stay outdoors for a prolonged period of time. Official U.S. government personnel at the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur with medical problems which may be exacerbated by pollution area being permitted to depart the country temporarily. The Malaysian Department of Environment has established a Website at http://www.jas.sains.my/doe. Singapore radio has issued bulletins urging the elderly and those with respiratory problems to remain indoors. Travelers are advised to contact the U.S. Embassies in Kuala Lumpur or in Singapore for updates on the current situation. For additional information on travel to Malaysia and Singapore, consult the Department of States latest Consular Information Sheets for those countries. This Public Announcement expires on October 19, 1997. Malaysia - Consular Information Sheet February 26, 1997 Country Description: Malaysia is a federal parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. Tourist facilities and services are available in major areas of interest. Entry Requirements: A valid passport is required of all persons entering Malaysia. American citizens do not require a visa for pleasure or business if their stay in Malaysia is less than 90 days. For more information on entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of Malaysia, 2401 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 328-2700. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Malaysian embassy or consulate. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities and services are adequate in the larger cities where western-trained, English-speaking doctors can easily be found. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental overseas medical insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation, may prove useful. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical services outside the United States. The international travelers hotline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be reached at tel. 404-332-4559 or via the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/ for additional health information. Information on Crime: Malaysia has a high rate of credit card fraud. In tourist areas and shopping malls, foreigners are often the target of pickpocketing, burglaries, purse snatching (the assailants usually operate on a motor scooter), and automobile break-ins. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. The Malaysian criminal code includes a provision for a sentence of caning for certain white collar crimes, including criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and cheating. Drug Penalties: Malaysia strictly enforces its drug laws. Malaysian legislation provides for a mandatory death penalty for convicted drug traffickers. Individuals arrested in possession of fifteen grams (1/2 ounce) of heroin or two hundred grams (7 ounces) of marijuana are presumed by law to be trafficking in drugs. Aviation Oversight: As a result of an assessment conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in May, 1996, the FAA has found the government of Malaysia's civil aviation authority to be in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Malaysia's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873. Dual Nationality: Malaysia does not recognize dual nationality. U.S. citizens who are also Malaysian nationals could experience close scrutiny by suspecting Malaysian immigration officials when entering or departing Malaysia on Malaysian passports. Note that the United States requires all U.S. citizens to enter and depart the U.S. on U.S. passports. Dual nationals may be subject to Malaysian laws which impose special obligations. Road Safety: Traffic patterns in Malaysia move on the left. When crossing roads, pedestrians are reminded to look carefully in all directions. Motorcyclists attempt to circumvent traffic blockage by weaving through vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic is heavy at peak hours and slows down considerably when it rains. Bottlenecks are common sights in Kuala Lumpur. Multilaned highways often merge into narrow two-lane roads in the center of town and cause added congestion. Many narrow and winding streets were built a century ago to handle hawkers and trishaws. Development of the infrastructure has not kept pace with the proliferation of motorized vehicles. Buses and minibuses within the cities and between towns are often filled beyond capacity. Taxis are metered but some drivers charge a rate much higher than the metered rate during peak hours, when it is raining, or when the passenger's destination is to or through a heavily congested area. Malaysia's north-south highway system is paved and very well maintained. This four-lane highway stretches from Singapore to the Thai border. Malaysia's west coast has a well developed system of paved roads between major cities. Such two-lane highways are usually congested. Serious accidents can occur from head-on collisions and vehicles which careen off the road in hilly regions. In 1996, the government reported 6,233 fatalities on Malaysian roads. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens living in or visiting Malaysia are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country. The U.S. Embassy is located at 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50400, Kuala Lumpur. The mailing address is P.O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; telephone (60-3) 248-9011. The fax number for the U.S. Embassy is (60-3) 242-2207; the fax number for the Consular Section is (60-3) 248-5801. Internet home page: http://www.jaring.my/usiskl/embassy/klcons.html No. 97-028 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 30, 1995, adding new sections on criminal penalties and road safety, and updating sections on medical facilities and U.S. Embassy location/registration. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories