Retiring in Malaysia. Better than Thailand?

[Stocky]

2 hours ago, vinniekintana said:

Most posters trashing Msia have never actually visited/lived there.

This being said, the MM2H program is way too expensive

10000RM (70000 BAHT) per month in income is way too high...plus the 80k$ or so initial investment.

 

 

If you're over 50 it's USD36,000 on deposit for the first year, after that USD24,000, and a monthly income/pension of USD2,400 per month.

[Stocky]

23 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

My Thai friends in Songkhla caution me to stay off the streets after dark. So I avoid the south altogether now.

Your friends are winding you up! But if you're that terrified best stay in bed.

[RocketDog]

On 7/20/2019 at 9:47 AM, leggo said:

If you are happy living in a Muslim country then why not? Except the visa and annual income costs  are way higher than the Philippines; actually about 4 times more expensive and that would put a lot of people off. I've only ever been to Penang so I don't really know the country but there the people were extremely friendly and polite and the food was interesting and pretty good. I'm pretty sure that the cost of living is higher. On the plus side there is no sex industry which precludes a lot of the scussos that have not helped the image or daily life of Thailand!

Truly? No sex industry?

 

How naive can you be?

 

Humans are eminently social and sexual animals. There is a sex industry everywhere there are humans.

 

I'm proud of you for pretending not to notice.

[RocketDog]

Just now, Stocky said:

Your friends are winding you up! But if you're that terrified best stay in bed.

Not terrified, just wise enough to avoid trouble when it's apparent. I'm also wise enough to take the advice of trusted locals when in a foreign land.

 

I guess I'm just not the guts and glory type that you are.

 

BTW, there are numerous alternatives to avoiding Muslim concentrations than staying in bed.

I invite you to widen your horizons.

[Stocky]

1 minute ago, RocketDog said:

BTW, there are numerous alternatives to avoiding Muslim concentrations than staying in bed.

I invite you to widen your horizons.

I live in a largely Muslim community here in Hat Yai, the mosque is just around the corner, it's a peaceful community.

[RocketDog]

4 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I live in a largely Muslim community here in Hat Yai, the mosque is just around the corner, it's a peaceful community.

Good for you. Enjoy yourself.

And you don't need a clock because the droning from the speakers several times a day informs you of your duties. Very handy.

Edited July 21, 2019 by RocketDog

[Thaifriends]

Very childish of many above statements as the discussion was open for comparison of expats life not religion.

 

Maybe they are jelous that they dont have USD80K+++ to live there ????????????

[Stocky]

47 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

Good for you. Enjoy yourself.

And you don't need a clock because the droning from the speakers several times a day informs you of your duties. Very handy. 

The call to prayer actually isn't that intrusive, it lasts about a minute, and depending on the muezzin it can be pleasantly melodic. But to be honest I barely notice it. Certainly it does give a pattern to the day, and the evening call to prayer tells me it's time for a beer.

Edited July 21, 2019 by Stocky

[Thaifriends]

4 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Yawn

Good. Always good to ignore these kind of people who have superiority complex and find faults in others because the media says so. ????

[isaanistical]

On 7/20/2019 at 8:18 AM, pacovl46 said:

i wouldn't live in a  in a country where the head of state is a hardcore racist and anti semite

At least in Malaysia it's permissible to criticise......

 

I'm British, so I get visa-exempt 90 days per entry to Malaysia. I was there for two months recently with a view to seeing if KL is a better place to stay than BKK, and was assured by police and immigration they couldn't care less how many 3-month entries you do. The MM2H thing is fine if you want to bring family, but hardly necessary (and in any case a far far better deal than Thai Elite).

 

I have been going to Malaysia for 25 years and have never been bothered by anything Islamic even during Ramadan (a third of the population is not Muslim anyway). I like the locals – they like to have fun, although off the beaten track you may need to take care. KL's infrastructure is far better than BKK, though I agree with a comment about traffic, which is almost as bad. They even have an Octopus-like travel card that works right across public transport. Alcohol is freely available (beer a tad more expensive, wine a little less) throughout the day (no nonsense about 2pm-5pm curfews). Food is much better and more choice. English being widely spoken is a bit of a plus, too.

 

Apartment rentals even right around KLCC are better and cheaper than BKK and there are fewer hoops to jump through (but as everywhere, opening a local bank depends on a work permit – or the MM2H). Outside KL, not sure, although Penang is pretty full of Chinese these days.

 

I have family in BKK, but even so I am considering a move right now because Thailand is certainly mai sanook these days and the welcome has surely faded. Malaysians have made me welcome whenever I have been there.

[Stocky]

1 minute ago, Thaifriends said:

Good. Always good to ignore these kind of people who have superiority complex and find faults in others because the media says so. ????

Sorry I edited my post. But yes, there are several TVF contributors who have a Pavlovian response to the word Muslim. I doubt any of them have actually met a Muslim.

[CLW]

Good for you. Enjoy yourself.
And you don't need a clock because the droning from the speakers several times a day informs you of your duties. Very handy.

If that is a problem for you then you shouldn't move to rural Thailand near a temple or any Christian country near a church with clock tower

[RocketDog]

Just now, CLW said:

1 hour ago, RocketDog said:

Good for you. Enjoy yourself.
And you don't need a clock because the droning from the speakers several times a day informs you of your duties. Very handy.

If that is a problem for you then you shouldn't move to rural Thailand near a temple or any Christian country near a church with clock tower

Agreed. I try to avoid clocks, Christians, churches, and temples anywhere I live.

But thanks for the tip.

[moe666]

My second ex wife had a nephew who married a malaysian girl who came from a wealthy chinese family. I asked her where will you guys live in Malaysia she looked at me and said London I would never live in Malaysia what a nasty place. She was born and raised there but also has a Brit passport, wealthy family.

[CLW]

My second ex wife had a nephew who married a malaysian girl who came from a wealthy chinese family. I asked her where will you guys live in Malaysia she looked at me and said London I would never live in Malaysia what a nasty place. She was born and raised there but also has a Brit passport, wealthy family.

Well that's Hi So problems.

I would never want to live in London for example but this has mostly to do with the miserable weather there.

[dbrenn]

On 7/19/2019 at 2:57 PM, JimmyJ said:

I'd read of the lesbians being whipped

I'd have thought spanking would attract quite a lot of forum members. 

[easydoesit]

Thailand is losing it's Mojo and other countries are peeling away retirees and Europeans that are sick and tired of facing new immigration rules and laws every week. The fun times are gone, foreigners are leaving in droves and Phuket is experiencing a 50% drop in reservations.

The attempt to turn Pattaya into a tourist friendly destination has been a complete flop and even the low profit Chinese tourists have dried up, with Indians now becoming the largest visitor demographic..not saying that is a good or bad thing, just stating the facts.

The days of "nowhere else to go" are over, with Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and various other Asian countries offering retirees Visa programs and visitor incentives are leaving Thailand in the dust, and the unfortunate thing is Thailand immigration has failed to realize that their inconsistent policies and tourist unfriendly attitude is going to cause big problems in the near future

Hope I am wrong but I dont think so.

[pacovl46]

5 hours ago, isaanistical said:

At least in Malaysia it's permissible to criticise......

 

I'm British, so I get visa-exempt 90 days per entry to Malaysia. I was there for two months recently with a view to seeing if KL is a better place to stay than BKK, and was assured by police and immigration they couldn't care less how many 3-month entries you do. The MM2H thing is fine if you want to bring family, but hardly necessary (and in any case a far far better deal than Thai Elite).

 

I have been going to Malaysia for 25 years and have never been bothered by anything Islamic even during Ramadan (a third of the population is not Muslim anyway). I like the locals – they like to have fun, although off the beaten track you may need to take care. KL's infrastructure is far better than BKK, though I agree with a comment about traffic, which is almost as bad. They even have an Octopus-like travel card that works right across public transport. Alcohol is freely available (beer a tad more expensive, wine a little less) throughout the day (no nonsense about 2pm-5pm curfews). Food is much better and more choice. English being widely spoken is a bit of a plus, too.

 

Apartment rentals even right around KLCC are better and cheaper than BKK and there are fewer hoops to jump through (but as everywhere, opening a local bank depends on a work permit – or the MM2H). Outside KL, not sure, although Penang is pretty full of Chinese these days.

 

I have family in BKK, but even so I am considering a move right now because Thailand is certainly mai sanook these days and the welcome has surely faded. Malaysians have made me welcome whenever I have been there.

You’ve totally misquoted me, man! What you have quoted was posted by someone else and I didn’t agree with the original poster.

 

What I did agree with with was the “fine print” underneath the original post which is: “Apartheid, genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and all the evil that mankind can inflict on others can be compiled in Palestine - courtesy of the barbaric, arrogant, terrorist nation called Israel."

[Stocky]

The above is incorrect, that video is from the public canning of a women in Aceh province Indonesia, not Malaysia.

 

There were two women canned in Malaysia last year but it was done in the court room. As with Indonesia and its hardline Aceh province, in Malaysia these things only happen in the two northern states of Kelatan and Terengannu, important to note that Sharia law only applies to Muslims.

 

.

Edited July 21, 2019 by Stocky

[Salerno]

On 7/20/2019 at 2:08 PM, limbojunkie said:

Dating? Over 50% of population are Muslims so you can't have luck with them. The rest are Indians who can't date because of traditions which leaves you with Chinese who make about 20-23% who are also less open to dating expats unlike Thai who are far more open. (Unless you are into sugar daddy/baby thing which starts getting viral since I left).

Have to agree with your fine post other than the above. I have had no issues hooking up with Malay, Indian Malaysians or Chinese Malaysians, quite the contrary; and no, I am not a George Clooney look alike, far from it.

 

The only real downside to dating in KL is remembering who you are with, Chinese heritage, no problem, they eat anything, Indian heritage, possibly an issue with ordering beef dishes, Malaya highly likely halal required (forgot who I was with one night and ordered a ham and melon entree ... oooops!).

 

On 7/20/2019 at 9:11 PM, leggo said:

no alcohol since when - I drank beer or wine at every place I ate.

Actually had to scour my memory banks as there was one place I remember that is alcohol free in PJ; from memory I think it's called Banana Leaf.

Edited July 21, 2019 by Salerno

[Scott]

Off-topic, inflammatory, troll posts and replies removed.   Two suspensions given.   Stay on topic.

[wisperone]

Every time I included a tip in the payment to my grab driver, they always said I gave them too much and motioned to give it back to me, at which time I told them it was for them. To me, that shows a general honesty in the country.

[wisperone]

12 hours ago, Stocky said:

If you're over 50 it's USD36,000 on deposit for the first year, after that USD24,000, and a monthly income/pension of USD2,400 per month.

They are being careful in not turning into the backpacker/cheap charlie Thailand haven.

[Genericnic]

1 hour ago, wisperone said:

They are being careful in not turning into the backpacker/cheap charlie Thailand haven.

So it is about 300,000 baht more the 1st year than the 800,000 baht and only about 60,000 baht per year less thereafter? If I were going to bury a large sum in an unusable form, I think Thailand is the better option.

 

David

 

[isaanistical]

15 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

You’ve totally misquoted me, man! What you have quoted was posted by someone else and I didn’t agree with the original poster.

Apologies if I took the quote from your post - but the point stands. Malaysians are free to express their views on the head of state (and on Mahathir, who is PM, not head of state), but neighbours are not so fortunate and we dare not discuss that. They actually turfed out Najib, who looks like a nitwit till you see the scale of the 1MDB scam. No danger of anything like that in LoS.......

[Sujo]

Im very lucky as I have permanent residency in malaysia because I am an expert in my field. So I didnt need any financial or other hoops to jump through. But before I even thought of applying for that I did 4 years of visa runs every 3 months.

 

So my thoughts on Malaysia are only what its like to live here. Im not taking into consideration any visa hassles.

 

Climate hot or hot and wet.

Alcohol, lots of places, yes quite a few muslims drink.

Girls, take your pick, thai, pinay, chinese, indian, malay.

Crime, its the most safe I have felt in any country.

Muslims, they do their thing and i do mine.

 

Nicest places I would settle are

 

Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Tioman Island, Kuching. Thats pretty much in order. Im only in KL because of work, hate the traffic but do like the nightlife and the many bars and restaurants.

 

I feel at ease here but if it goes tits up would head to vietnam or philippines as my next choices.

 

I do still like to visit Thailand four or 5 times a year but its lost its welcome for me due to high baht and a general feeling of just being a walking atm, getting tired of having to constantly be on guard for rip offs.

 

Just my 2 cents worth

[Shoban]

6 hours ago, Sujo said:

Im very lucky as I have permanent residency in malaysia because I am an expert in my field. So I didnt need any financial or other hoops to jump through. But before I even thought of applying for that I did 4 years of visa runs every 3 months.

 

So my thoughts on Malaysia are only what its like to live here. Im not taking into consideration any visa hassles.

 

Climate hot or hot and wet.

Alcohol, lots of places, yes quite a few muslims drink.

Girls, take your pick, thai, pinay, chinese, indian, malay.

Crime, its the most safe I have felt in any country.

Muslims, they do their thing and i do mine.

 

Nicest places I would settle are

 

Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Tioman Island, Kuching. Thats pretty much in order. Im only in KL because of work, hate the traffic but do like the nightlife and the many bars and restaurants.

 

I feel at ease here but if it goes tits up would head to vietnam or philippines as my next choices.

 

I do still like to visit Thailand four or 5 times a year but its lost its welcome for me due to high baht and a general feeling of just being a walking atm, getting tired of having to constantly be on guard for rip offs.

 

Just my 2 cents worth

Interesting insight, cheers

[madmen]

I’m fine right here and no need to try any other. Everything is beautiful enough to keep me here. 
Thank you 

Nailed it. Funny how nearly everyone saying how wonderful Malaysia is are actually posting from Thailand.. They should grow some balls and just make the move to the great Islamic state

[SteveK]

Malaysia is a fantastic place to retire, but if you're someone who likes a night out and a drink, you're going to hate it. Most Malaysians socialise by going round to the houses of other family members and drinking hot water. The people are really friendly, they always seem really interested in meeting foreigners and not just because of what you've got in your wallet. They generally speak much, much better English than the Thais do, and because Malaysia is a melting pot of 3 different cultures, you can get many different kinds of food, not just relentless somtam/khanom jiin/dried-out gai yang like rural Thailand. Many restaurants outside KL do not serve alcohol. Dating and finding girls is borderline impossible, you have to get to know some people and ask if they can suggest someone, it's a bit old fashioned. And as mentioned the muslims and Indians won't date farang so that is at least 50% of them crossed off already.

 

If you want a quiet life in an exotic location, Malaysia just might be the place. But if you are planning on enjoying yourself a bit more, you will probably find it terribly boring. I've probably spent about 6 months there in my life, and I'm completely done with it, never going again. The supermarkets in Malaysia are fantastic, they sell all kinds of international produce, and have a huge array of ingredients at bargain prices. Costs are very reasonable too - as long as you avoid alcohol entirely as it is taxed into oblivion, even for bog standard 330mls of Malaysian produced carlsberg which is not nice at all.

 

Had the best value meal of my life in Kuala Lumpur, though, for 2 ringit which was about 40p I had a huge portion of outrageously hot chicken curry served on a banana leaf at a restaurant called Sri Pandi, I'll never forget that, neither will my colon.

Edited July 22, 2019 by SteveK

[Jingthing]

34 minutes ago, madmen said:

On ‎7‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 8:42 PM, The Theory said:

I’m fine right here and no need to try any other. Everything is beautiful enough to keep me here. 
Thank you 

Nailed it. Funny how nearly everyone saying how wonderful Malaysia is are actually posting from Thailand.. They should grow some balls and just make the move to the great Islamic state

I'd be interested in Malaysia but can't qualify for their second home program but I would definitely recommend that people that can have a look. 

 

My understanding is that it can also be a good digital nomad base just with tourist visas, but that's not for living there permanently. 

 

The youtube star of Nomad Capitalist owns housing there and rates it very highly for that purpose.

Edited July 22, 2019 by Jingthing