Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 13:00, Saturday
Banks: 09:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:30 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday
Shops: 10:00 to 22:00, Monday to Sunday; subject to variation

Although Johor is largely a safe destination, holidaymakers visiting Johor should keep their wits about them as rising levels of theft and other petty crimes have recently been reported. Visitors who practice common sense are likely to enjoy trips that are free from any unfortunate incidents.

It pays to take a few basic precautions which can dramatically reduce your chances of being targeted by petty criminals. Avoid carrying or displaying expensive items. Backpacks are not recommended unless they have double zips which can be locked. Wallets should be kept in front pockets of in a concealed money belt. Single-strap bags should be worn across the body, to reduce the chances of them being snatched.

As in your home country, items of value should not be left in parked cars nor should keys be left in the ignition of vehicles while filling up at gas stations.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz

All visitors should be vaccinated against polio and typhoid prior to their arrival in Johor. Additionally, those anticipating close contact with animals should consider vaccination against rabies. Malaria is present in Johor however the risk of contracting it is not high. Some visitors choose to take anti-malaria drugs, while others prefer to protect themselves from getting bitten using mosquito repellent.

Tap water is deemed safe to drink however it’s wiser to drink bottled water, which is readily available. Food preparation at many eateries may not meet western hygiene standards either and visitors are advised to avoid dirty-looking establishments or roadside food vendors where dust and airborne bacteria might be an issue.

Hospital Sultanah Aminah (Johor Bahru): +60 7 2231666

Citizens of Johor speak the Johorean dialect of Bahasa Malaysia, the country’s official language. Ethnic groups such as the Chinese Johoreans often speak a patois of the main language. English is commonly spoken in hotels, restaurants and popular tourist areas.

The national currency is the Malaysian ringgit (RM), with 1 RM comprised of 100 sen. Notes are issued in denominations of 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 RM, while coins comes in 1 RM and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen.

Currency exchange facilities are fairly common in Johor’s main tourist areas with the city of Johor Bahru offering exchange desks at many of its most popular hotels. Cash and traveller’s cheques can also be exchanged at most banks with the rates at banks likely to be better than those on offer at hotels.

ATMs can be found easily in Johor Bahru with the majority of machines accepting foreign cards. To be on the safe side, visitors are advised to bring a card that is endorsed by a reputable international credit firm such as Visa, AMEX, or Diner’s Club.

Visitors entering Malaysia by air or land border are permitted to bring in up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 225 grams of loose tobacco and a litre of alcoholic beverages. Gifts with a value of up to 200 RM are permitted, as are items including cameras, watches, cosmetics, perfumes and personal audio players, which can be brought in without incurring duty.

Pornographic and religiously offensive materials are not allowed into the country and visitors risk fine and imprisonment for attempting to import such goods. Certain food items are also prohibited therefore it’s wise to declare all edible products on arrival.

If meeting a local for the first time, a light handshake is a suitable greeting. Many locals follow this with a gesture in which the right hand is placed over the heart. The left hand is considered unclean by many Malaysians and you should therefore use your right hand to give and accept items and to eat with.

Shoes should be removed before entering abodes or places of worship and some shops and restaurants. If you are unsure whether to remove your shoes, just look for shoes outside entrances as an indicator of the business owner’s expectations.

Modest clothing should be worn aside from at the beach and by the pool, where swimsuits and bikinis are acceptable. Topless bathing is considered offensive. When visiting temples and mosques, knees and shoulders should be covered.

The head is considered a spiritually revered part of the body and it’s therefore unacceptable to touch a person’s head; even patting the head of a small child is frowned upon. Inversely, the feet are considered lowly and hence should not be raised in public or used to point. Never touch a person with your feet and avoid exposing the soles of your feet to anyone.

Physical contact between members of the opposite sex in public is frowned upon. Holding hands, kissing and other signs of affection should be reserved for the privacy of your hotel room.

Dining Etiquette
If invited to a Malaysian home for dinner, visitors should be aware of a few basic rules so they don’t offend their host or fellow diners. It’s polite to bring a gift for your host; this can be anything from flowers to fruit or an item brought from your home country. You should not bring alcohol with you as many locals don’t drink for religious reasons.

In the dining room, wait to be shown to your seat and for all other diners to be seated before you commence eating. Johoreans use utensils and their right hand to eat with, depending on the type of food served. To be sure of getting things right, observe the actions of other and follow suit.

Try to eat a little of everything you are offered. Leaving a little food on your plate at the end of a meal signifies you are full and were offered a sufficient amount of food.

Visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada and the EU, are permitted entry to Malaysia upon presentation of a passport that is valid for at least six months from date of entry. Nationals of these countries can stay for up to three months without a visa, except Canadians, who are only permitted to stay for two months.

Visitors of all other nationalities are required to obtain a tourist visa prior to their arrival, which can be applied for at a Malaysian consulate or embassy in their home country.

Johor’s main tourist information office is located in the state capital of Johor Bahru. The office is open from 08:00 to 16:15, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to 12:45, on Saturdays and 10:00 to 16:00 on Sundays. English speaking staff with a wide knowledge of Johor and Johor Bahru are on hand to help visitors.

2 Jalan Ayer Molek
Johor Bahru 80000 Malaysia
Phone: +60 7 222 3392