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

Kedah is a safe place for tourists. Despite the low level of risk to tourists here, visitors should remain aware of the presence of opportunist thieves and petty criminals who have a tendency to loiter in popular tourist areas. Sensible behaviour can go a long way to reducing your chance of being targeted by these kinds of individuals. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times and pay attention to your cash and valuable items, keeping them hidden and in hard-to-reach places wherever possible.

On the beach, never leave personal belongings unattended and be wary of hawkers. When travelling, wear single strap bags across the body and wear backpacks on the front of your body in places where criminals are likely to be present.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz

Kedah doesn’t present especially high levels of risk to the health of its visitors. However, some basic precautions are necessary in order to avoid exposure to elements likely to cause sickness.

While tap water in Kedah is considered safe to drink, its chemical composition may disagree with some visitor’s stomachs. Drinking readily available bottled water is a safer option. Vaccinations against polio and typhoid are recommended, while rabies immunisation is advisable for any visitor planning on close contact with animals.

Use discrimination when choosing where to eat as standards of hygiene can be questionable at some establishments. Food from street side vendors should in particular be well-cooked.

The standard of medical care in hospitals may fall short of western standards, but basic treatment and emergencies are generally tended to with efficiency. Visitors should be sure to have holiday insurance with medical cover or risk facing hefty hospital bills should they require medical treatment.

Hospital Alor Setar: + 60 4 7303333

Bahasa Malaysia is spoken across Kedah although regional dialects exist. English is widely spoken, especially in busy tourist areas such as Pulau Langkawi.

The national currency is the Malaysian ringgit (RM) with 1 RM being equal to 100 sen. Notes are issued in denominations of RM1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 while coins comes in RM1 and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen.

Alor Star and Pulau Langkawi have currency exchange desks in various locations including at Sultan Abdul Halim Airport and Langkawi International Airport. Money and travellers’ cheques can also be exchanged at most banks, which invariably offer better rates compared with bureaux de change. Some hotels offer currency exchange, but they generally offer the poorest rates.

ATMs are common in the bigger towns and most accept foreign cards. To be on the safe side, it’s wise to make sure your card is issued or endorsed by a reputable credit firm such as AMEX, Visa, Barclaycard or Diner’s Club.

Malaysian custom rules permit foreigners to bring a litre of alcohol and up to 200 cigarettes (50 cigars or 225 grams tobacco) into the country duty-free. Gifts may also be brought in duty-free provided their value does not exceed RM200.

There are restrictions on the import of certain food items so it’s wise to declare any consumable products that you are carrying. Religiously offensive literature and pornographic material are prohibited and there are serious consequences for those found carrying such items.

When meeting a local for the first time, shaking their hand lightly is an acceptable greeting; a firm grip can be taken as an insult. Locals often follow a handshake by placing their right hand over their heart.

Be sure to remove your shoes before entering a home, mosque or temple. Some small shops may also follow this practice. If you see shoes at the entrance to a place then you should follow suit and also remove your shoes.

Be sensitive to the religious and moral views of the locals and dress accordingly. While swimwear is fine for the beach, it is considered inappropriate in the towns. Modest clothing should be worn in public places away from the beach and at places of worship both men and women should cover their knees and shoulders.

Malaysians, like many Asians, believe that the head is a sacred part of the body and hence it’s inappropriate to pat someone on the head. Inversely, the feet are considered lowly and dirty and should not be raised in public, used to point to something, or allowed to come into contact with another person’s body. Couples should avoid public displays of affection and physical contact. Gestures such as holding hands and kissing should be reserved for hotel rooms only.

Dining Etiquette
If you are invited for dinner at someone’s home, it is polite but not essential to bring a small gift. Something from your own country that’s not available in Malaysia will be cherished, otherwise flowers or an ornament are considered appropriate. Alcohol is not a suitable gift as many Kedah residents don’t drink.

Wait to be shown to your seat in the dining room. Once at the table, you should wait for all other dinner guests to be seated before you begin to eat. It’s polite to try all of the dishes that you are offered and to accept second helpings. When you’ve finished eating, leave a small portion of food on the plate to indicate that your host offered you enough food; an empty plate can be taken as an insult.

Food is sometimes eaten with utensils and at other times with the right hand. The left hand is considered dirty on account of its role with regards to hygiene matters and should not be used for eating.

Visitors from Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada and the EU are permitted entry to Malaysia with a valid passport that has at least six months validity from date of entry. Nationals of these countries can stay for up to three months without a visa, except those from Canada, who can stay no more than two months before a visa is required. Nationals of all other countries are required to have a tourist visa, which can be applied for at a Malaysian consulate or embassy in the visitor’s home country.

There are tourist information offices in Alor Star, the state capital, and at Langkawi.

Kompleks Pelancongan Negeri Kedah
Seksyen 20, Jalan Raja, 05000
Alor Setar
Kedah Darul Aman
Phone: +60 4 7312322, +60 4 7301322
Fax: +60 4 7340322

Langkawi Tourist Information Centre
Jalan Persiaran Putra
07000 Kuah, Langkawi
Phone: +60 4 966 7789
Fax: +60 4 9667889