Penang, an island just off the northwest coast of Malaysia, forms a part of the Malaysian state of the same name. The major city on the island, George Town, is also often called Penang. The island features tropical beaches, historic sights, and one of the best opportunities to experience the diversity of Malaysian culture.Plug TypeLanguageBahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, TamilPopulation1.2 millionTime ZoneGMT +8 hoursMeasuresMetric SystemVoltage220/240 voltsMobile PhonesGSM 1800Citizens of the United States, Canada, and most Arab, Commonwealth and European countries do not need visas for visits of less than three months. You may view entry requirements by country of origin by clicking on the link below.Visa information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MalaysiaThe Malaysian currency is the ringgit, divided into 100 sen (cents). The currency is abbreviated both as RM and MYR. While credit cards are accepted in hotels and department stores, expect to pay in cash in rural areas.Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.MYR 1.00 equals:
.33
US Dollar (USD)
.31
Australian Dollar (AUD)
2.07
Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB)
.25
Euro (EUR)
.21
British Pound (GBP)
2.55
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
16.48
Indian Rupee (INR)
25.57
Japanese Yen (JPY)
.40
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
.41
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Hotels and restaurants add a government tax of 5% and a service charge of 10%.
Effective from 1 January 2011, the Government of Malaysia will increase a government tax from 5% to 6%, to be levied on all services including accommodation, air transfers, food and beverage, activities and other services.
Tipping is not customary in Malaysia.Bank Hours10am to 4pmOffice HoursThough Malaysia is an Islamic country, offices observe a Monday to Friday schedule.
Offices: Business: 9am to 5pm
Government: 8am to 5pm
Shop Hours10am to 10pmEnsure that food is well cooked, and consume only bottled mineral water outside the hotel.Lightweight clothing is ideal. A shirt, jacket and tie are normal business attire. Shorts, miniskirts and sleeveless garments for women are not advisable, especially in rural areas.Penang has a typically tropical climate of warm, sunny weather throughout the year. Rain is most frequent from November to January, but can be expected in any month.