Retiring in Malaysia. Better than Thailand?

[Stocky]

1 hour ago, madmen said:

Funny how nearly everyone saying how wonderful Malaysia is are actually posting from Thailand.

I lived and worked in Malaysia for three years, thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm in Thailand because my wife is Thai and we have a life here. I still have friends in Malaysia, and I still undertake consulting work there, so visit around four to six times a year. If I hadn't ended up in Thailand I would very likely have opted for Malaysia.

 

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Edited July 22, 2019 by Stocky

[madmen]

I lived and worked in Malaysia for three years, thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm in Thailand because my wife is Thai and we have a life here. I still have friends in Malaysia, and I still undertake consulting work there, so visit around four to six times a year. If I hadn't ended up in Thailand I would very likely have opted for Malaysia.
 
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Sure but most posting about thinking about going to Vietnam or the Phillipines or heaven forbid even Cambodia have excuses. I think somebody once posted they had a parrot to take care of

The real hard core truth is thailand has the whole package so why would anyone leave

[Sujo]

18 hours ago, madmen said:

On 7/20/2019 at 9:42 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

Im not posting from thailand. I moved to malaysia

[Sujo]

8 minutes ago, madmen said:

Sure but most posting about thinking about going to Vietnam or the Phillipines or heaven forbid even Cambodia have excuses. I think somebody once posted they had a parrot to take care of

The real hard core truth is thailand has the whole package so why would anyone leave

Because i dont want to live in thailand, to visit yes. I prefer living in malaysia

[Sujo]

18 hours ago, SteveK said:

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.

Agree with you except dating girls. Its quite easy to date, i have dated many muslim girls.

[Stocky]

15 minutes ago, madmen said:

truth is thailand has the whole package so why would anyone leave

I'd largely agree, though I wouldn't say 'the whole package', it ticks most boxes. We're happy here in Hat Yai and have no plans to move. But that isn't to say Malaysia isn't also an option that ticks most of the boxes too, including some boxes, like language and infrastructure, that Thailand fails on.

[Mike Teavee]

On 7/20/2019 at 2:04 PM, Sujo said:

Kota Kinabalu in Sabah is for you. Maybe Langkawi which is duty free.

Tioman island on the east coast.

 Only the northern states like kelantan and terrenganu are backwards but you will not be subject to sharia law anyway.

 

All places is western friendly, no one will bother you.

 

 

Love Penang (& Langkawi) but if I was choosing a place to retire in Malaysia it would probably be Malacca

 

[The Theory]

8 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Im not posting from thailand. I moved to Malaysia.

I’m glad that it fits you. I really envy you. I’m sure Malaysia is a wonderful country, but this is something that will be Proven/fail in longer time, not only just in a few years or so.

I prefer living in a Buddhist country rather than a Muslim since I already lived and worked some years in Middle East. 

Good luck and enjoy it. 

[Stocky]

30 minutes ago, The Theory said:

I’m sure Malaysia is a wonderful country...

...I already lived and worked some years in Middle East

Malaysia isn't the Middle East - if you've not been there, and your first statement would confirm that, then I suggest you don't jump to conclusions based on a dodgy comparison of apples and turnips.

[madmen]

I'd largely agree, though I wouldn't say 'the whole package', it ticks most boxes. We're happy here in Hat Yai and have no plans to move. But that isn't to say Malaysia isn't also an option that ticks most of the boxes too, including some boxes, like language and infrastructure, that Thailand fails on.

We all left first world and didn't come to SEA for the infrastructure that's for sure [emoji16]

[Stocky]

3 minutes ago, madmen said:

We all left first world and didn't come to SEA for the infrastructure that's for sure

Actually I'd spent 14 years working in Africa before coming to SE Asia, so I'd leave your broad brushes alone!

????

[madmen]

2 hours ago, Stocky said:

Actually I'd spent 14 years working in Africa before coming to SE Asia, so I'd leave your broad brushes alone!

????

ok all of us minus 1..happy now 

[Stocky]

32 minutes ago, madmen said:

ok all of us minus 1..happy now 

No. You continue to generalise and make assumptions.

 

In truth the infrastructure in KL is better than many places in Europe and North America.

Edited July 23, 2019 by Stocky

[The Theory]

4 hours ago, Stocky said:

Malaysia isn't the Middle East - if you've not been there, and your first statement would confirm that, then I suggest you don't jump to conclusions based on a dodgy comparison of apples and turnips.

Are you trying to do some kind of “marketing” here ? 

What are you trying to sell ? 

You like it there ? All yours. 

????????

 

Edited July 23, 2019 by The Theory

[marcusarelus]

What is the cost difference to retire?  1.  Insurance, 2 Money in bank, 3 Retirement income?

[Stocky]

1 minute ago, The Theory said:

Are you trying to do some kind of “marketing” here ? 

What are you trying to sell ? 

You like it there ? Stick to it. All yours.

????????

 

Certainly not, if you'd taken time to read the responses you would understand I live in Thailand, but I've had the chance to live and work in Malaysia. I just object when people make statements based on their misconceptions and prejudices based on no experience or knowledge. I'm not selling anything.

[madmen]

3 hours ago, Stocky said:

Actually I'd spent 14 years working in Africa before coming to SE Asia, so I'd leave your broad brushes alone!

????

Go what are you waiting for ? Apparently immigration will smile and give hugs ????

[Shoban]

10 minutes ago, Stocky said:

No. You continue to generalise and make assumptions.

 

In truth the infrastructure in KL is better than many places in Europe and North America.

agreed, ridiculous assumptions and over exaggerations 

[The Theory]

2 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Certainly not, if you'd taken time to read the responses you would understand I live in Thailand, but I've had the chance to live and work in Malaysia. I just object when people make statements based on their misconceptions and prejudices based on no experience or knowledge. I'm not selling anything.

If you are not doing any marketing here then what is it you want here ?!!!

My guess is you already tried to live in Thailand, but somehow it was not successful. Or perhaps deported. 

You live there, it is definitely a wonderful country and it is an absolute paradise. 

Good for you. Enjoy it. 

 

 

[Stocky]

Clearly English isn't your first language.

[The Theory]

55 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Clearly English isn't your first language.

A poor man comment. 

Im so sorry for you. It seems you are in a serious pain.

im an American and I speak street language only. ????????

Have you seen “born in East LA” ? 

Thats what I’m. 

Edited July 23, 2019 by The Theory

[yellowboat]

On 7/20/2019 at 10:16 AM, Old Croc said:

For people who don't consider a large capital city to be the best retirement destination, where, apart from Penang, would there be a reasonable sized town with amenities, beaches, and freedom of thought?

I guess I'm wondering about the east coast, which apparently has beaches and islands, but perhaps is backwards and conservative.

Is there any westerner friendly communities there?

Jahore maybe ?   Langkawi I have heard is good, but you would need to learn some Malay which is easier than Thai. 

[grifbel]

12 hours ago, Stocky said:

Clearly English isn't your first language.

Nor yours?

 

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000073.htm

Introductory adverbs are normally set off by a comma unless they are followed directly by the word they modify.

 

Correct: Clearly, one and one make two.

[Henryford]

Who wants to live in a Muslim country? I visited KL once and it took me hours to find a single bar.

[Shoban]

3 hours ago, Henryford said:

Who wants to live in a Muslim country? I visited KL once and it took me hours to find a single bar.

You have got to be kidding, ridiculous comment. Is this forum just full of trolls?

[Stocky]

52 minutes ago, Shoban said:

Is this forum just full of trolls?

Only half full.

[Salerno]

17 hours ago, Henryford said:

Who wants to live in a Muslim country? I visited KL once and it took me hours to find a single bar.

[sunnyboy2018]

On 7/19/2019 at 5:36 AM, Shoban said:

Actually this is unfair and inaccurate. There is very little in Muslim religion that affects the daily life of non muslims in Malaysia. Sure there are political statements mentioned here and there that ruffle feathers but life on the street is very different. We drink, party do as we please there is no Sharia law that applies to anyone here.

Unless you are a jew, gay  Israeli etc. 

[sunnyboy2018]

On 7/23/2019 at 2:23 PM, The Theory said:

A poor man comment. 

Im so sorry for you. It seems you are in a serious pain.

im an American and I speak street language only. ????????

Have you seen “born in East LA” ? 

Thats what I’m. 

East la? What is that?

[Shoban]

Thanks for the feedback everyone...unfortunately too much inaccurate comments about race and religion here...but maybe that is something that Malaysia needs to work on, to show that extremist religious issues do not affect the majority of peoples lives.