Malaysia: Living It Up
Malaysia offers some of the most complete lifestyles anywhere in the world and the ECER is no exception. In addition, there are certain advantages that you enjoy in the East Coast that you might not in other places in the country:
A better quality of life
The quality of life in the Eastern region is one that many wish for. It is characterized by warm, friendly people who cherish values. There is the sense that people hold onto traditional values such as neighbourliness, trust and honesty.
Of course, the natural beauty of the land and the rich tapestry of local culture and tradition are also reasons to stay within and explore the region.
Affordable living
The Eastern region enjoys some of the most competitive cost of living in Malaysia.
Everyday expenses such as food, petrol, entertainment and public transport are truly affordable. In recent years, the cost of cellular and cyber communications have nosedived so much that the issue is no longer about payment – rather it is about which service provider to choose from.
The local currency unit Ringgit Malaysia (RM) offers competitive exchange rates when compared to major world currencies.
Property at Competitive Prices
In comparison to many developing countries, property prices in Malaysia are generally affordable. In the ECER, property and land prices are generally lower than that of the urban centres in the West Coast and South, making it an ideal base for a second home for many. The Malaysian Government has also initiated the Malaysia My Second Home programme, which provides incentives for expatriates to own property in the country.
Efficient Transportation Network
Malaysia is well connected with a network of roads and rail linking states on the East and the West coast, while the two halves of the country, East Malaysia and West Malaysia is linked by an efficient air travel network plied by the National Carrier, Malaysia Airlines and the local low-cost carriers, Air Asia and Firefly.
Infrastructure, Utility and Services
Access to piped water, electricity and fixed line is nearly universal, while broadband internet and cellular network penetration covers much of the accessible and populated areas of the country.
Utility costs are still fairly competitive for office, industry and home users. Solid and toxic waste management will be given a boost with the completion of proper sanitary landfills in the future.
The country is served by an efficient postal network and most international courier companies.
Outstanding education
The education standards in Malaysia are consistently set among the most developed in the world. Schooling systems are divided into broad categories: private, international schools that strictly follow UK or US education syllabus. And secondly, there are public schools that are state-subsidised which leads to its O Level equivalent, SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia). Either way, the quality of teachers in institutions is comparable to regional standards, explaining why Malaysians qualify for entry into prestigious boarding schools, colleges and universities thereafter.
Comprehensive healthcare
Public health services are efficient and private medical care in Malaysia is recognised for its world-class quality in treatment and care. Medical facilities are available in all the major cities with well equipped hospitals and clinics run by highly qualified staff. Medical costs, including that for major surgical procedures are much lower than in many other countries.