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	MALAYSIA TRAVEL WARNING AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT 17 May 2006   Malaysia SUMMARY We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Malaysia because of the risk of terrorist attack. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks. We strongly advise you to reconsider your need to travel to coastal resorts and other centres on and islands and dive sites off the east coast of Sabah because of the high threat of kidnapping by terrorists. Terrorists have, in the past, kidnapped foreigners from the eastern coast of mainland Sabah, and from the islands and sea off its east coast. If you do decide to travel to this region you should exercise extreme caution. We cannot rule out the possibility of kidnappings from other coastal areas of Sabah, including urban centres, and islands off the coast. If you are intending to travel overland from Malaysia to Thailand you should be aware of the travel advice for Thailand which recommends that travellers reconsider their need to travel at this time to the far southern Thai provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla, including overland travel from and to the Malaysian border through these provinces. Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas: organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued. SAFETY AND SECURITY Terrorism Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers. We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Malaysia because of the risk of terrorist attack. There is a risk of terrorist attack in Malaysia including in commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, marketplaces, places of worship, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas. Eastern Sabah: We strongly advise you to reconsider your need to travel to coastal resorts and other centres on and islands and dive sites off the east coast of Sabah because of the high threat of kidnapping by terrorists. Terrorists have, in the past, kidnapped foreigners from the eastern coast of mainland Sabah, and from the islands and sea off its east coast. If you do decide to travel to this region you should exercise extreme caution. Other parts of Sabah: We cannot rule out the possibility of kidnappings from other coastal areas of Sabah, including urban centres, and islands off the coast. In April 2000, foreign and local hostages were taken from the island of Sipadan, off the south-eastern coast of Sabah near the border between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Further kidnappings took place in September 2000 from Pandanan Island, in October 2003 near Lahad Datu on the eastern Sabah mainland, and in April 2004 at sea off Sabah's east coast. In March 2005 there was a further kidnapping incident near Mataking Island. Malaysian security authorities have arrested a number of terrorist suspects and put in place strong counter-terrorism measures, including increased security in Sabah, but there is a continuing risk of incidents. Civil Unrest/Political Tension If you are intending to travel overland from Malaysia to Thailand you should be aware of the travel advice for Thailand which recommends that travellers reconsider their need to travel at this time to the far southern Thai provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla, including overland travel from and to the Malaysian border through these provinces. Police permission is required for public gatherings and demonstrations. You should avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent. Crime Petty crime is common. 'Snatch and grab' attacks against pedestrians by passing motorcyclists, often resulting in injury to the victim, occur frequently. Drink spiking occurs. Victims lose consciousness and have been assaulted and robbed. Scams involving gambling are common. Credit card fraud occurs extensively throughout Malaysia. Credit cards are frequently copied, for later illegal use, in places ranging from small shops to large department stores and hotels. Local Travel Motorcyclists can be a traffic hazard in Malaysia due to unsafe driving practices (particularly weaving through traffic and failing to stop at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings). Piracy in south east Asian waters is an ongoing problem, particularly in the Straits of Malacca and in the waters between Sabah and the southern Philippines. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its web site. You should also read our travel advice on shipping and ports. Airline Safety Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Transport and Regional Services website. If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Transport and Regional Services has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are provided advice not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns this will be included in travel advice. The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO. Natural Disasters In the wet season (October to February) flooding and mudslides are common. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities. All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure. Wildlife Watching Australians are strongly advised to maintain safe and legal approach distance when observing wildlife. You should use only reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice. Money and Valuables Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home. While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves. As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible. Since 1 July 2005, Australians have been required to pay an additional fee to have their passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports. For Parents If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia. Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council. Local Laws When you are in Malaysia, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail. Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter. Travellers should note some aspects of Sharia (Islamic) Law have been introduced by states in Malaysia and travellers should seek to inform themselves of relevant provisions. Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking. Homosexual acts between males are illegal and penalties include corporal punishment and long prison sentences. Homosexual acts between women may be considered an 'act of gross indecency with another' and penalties include imprisonment. Corporal punishment is mandatory for some offences. Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia. Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia. Local Customs Some sectors of Malaysian society have conservative standards of dress and behaviour. During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims. You should take care not to offend. Information for Dual Nationals Malaysia does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Malaysian dual nationals who are arrested or detained. Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals. Entry and Exit Requirements Visa conditions change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Malaysia for the most up to date information. Malaysian immigration authorities may deny entry and deport people arriving in Malaysia with less than six months validity remaining on their passport, even if the person intends staying just a few days. The arrival/departure card is required when departing Malaysia. If you lose it, the card can only be replaced at exit ports or the Immigration Department Headquarters. Health Issues We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while travelling overseas. The standard of medical facilities is adequate in major cities but can be limited in rural areas. Public hospital services can be limited and access slow. Private hospitals with international standard facilities can be found in major cities. Most private hospitals require a cash deposit or a confirmation of insurance prior to admission and expect immediate payment for services. Decompression chambers are located in Kuantan, Lumut, Ipoh, Sabah and Labuan. Malaria is a risk in rural areas but not in urban and coastal areas. Outbreaks of other mosquito-borne illnesses including dengue fever, chikungunya fever and filariasis also occur. The risk of contracting these infections rises during the wet season. We recommend that you consider malaria prophylaxis where appropriate and that you take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes, including using insect repellent at all times. Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, tuberculosis, and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)) are prevalent, with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea. Avoid temporary 'black henna' tattoos as they often contain a dye which can cause serious skin reactions. For further information see the Australasian College of Dermatologists' website. Smoke Haze: There is smoke haze across some parts of Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, usually during the July to October period. This haze can cause health problems for some people. Keep up to date with advice of local authorities and seek medical advice on appropriate precautions. Regular air quality reports are available from the Malaysian Department of the Environment. Avian influenza: The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website . For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza. Outbreaks of avian influenza amongst birds, including chickens and ducks, have been reported in Malaysia. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in Malaysia for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. Medical advice should be sought before antiviral medicines are commenced. Australians intending to travel to Malaysia for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks. If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in Malaysia should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in Malaysia should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice. In September 2005 the Australian Government decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at its high commission in Malaysia. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. Australian missions will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas and it is the responsibility of individual Australians to secure their own supply of such medicines (such as Tamiflu or Relenza), if required. Where to Get Help In Malaysia, you can obtain consular assistance from the: Australian High Commission 6 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng Kuala Lumpur Telephone (60 3) 2146 5555 Facsimile (60 3) 2141 5773. Email : ahckl.consular@dfat.gov.au Limited consular assistance, which does not include the issue of Australian passports, may be obtained from: Australian Honorary Consulate Suite 10.1, Level 10 Wisma Great Eastern 65 Jalan Gaya Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88000 MALAYSIA Telephone: (60 88) 267 151 Facsimile: (60 88) 266 509 Email: menkinas@tm.net.my Australian Honorary Consulate Suite 504, 5th Floor, Wisma Bukit Mata Kuching Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman Kuching, Sarawak 93100 Malaysia Telephone: (60 82) 233 350 Facsimile: (60 82) 233 480 Email: diting@tm.net.my Australian Honorary Consulate 1-C Lorong Hutton Penang 10050 Malaysia Telephone: (60 4) 263 3320 Facsimile: (60 4) 263 3320   SPONSORED LINKS   TOP STORIES
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