MALAYSIA: An Asian Retirement Paradise

Asia's best-kept secret for expatriates, Malaysiaa sea-view and a 350-sqare-foot terrace. It
has a vibrant mix of foreign and indigenous tribalcomes fully furnished and has 2 bedrooms, 1
cultures, creating a veritable melting pot ofbathroom, a kitchen, and a dining room. The
peoples, traditions and religions.asking price? $75,000.
A sizable enclave of foreigners (Brits, Americans,A spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom,
Australians, and Canadians) live full time or2500-square-foot condominium with a large living
maintain holiday homes in Malaysia, and you'll findroom, an elegant dining room, a fully equipped
that just about everybody speaks English, sincekitchen, and a pantry, for $125,250.
its compulsory in local schools.Though there are expensive restaurants and
Not only are three world-class playgroundsaccommodations, there's simply no reason for
(Thailand, Bali, and the Philippines) all within a fewyou to check into a five-star hotel when you can
hour's travel from Malaysia, but with miles ofstay in a clean, friendly hotel in the city center for
white sand coastline, tropical islands, and$40 a night where every meal costs less than $5
beachfront property galore, it has all the makingsper person.
of a fairy-tale setting.CRIME-FREE AND FOREIGNER FRIENDLY
Despite being the capital of a developing nation,Of course, cheap living shouldn't be the only
Kuala Lumpur is a modern cosmopolitan with cleandeciding factor when choosing a new home. As
streets and sidewalks and every modernwell as being very affordable, Malaysia is safe.The
convenience to found in New York or London.government's real no tolerance policy means
Home to the tallest building in the world, there arestreet crime is virtually nonexistent.
also FedEx and UPS offices, international banks,The Malaysian government, through its
English cinemas and bookstores, western-style"Silver-Haired Program," offers expatriate resident
supermarkets, French and German bakeries,retirees extremely attractive benefits. Outside of
Chinese, Indian, and Italian restaurants, gourmetnationals of Israel and Yugoslavia (Serbia and
coffee, Cuban cigars, Internet cafés andMontenegro), the program is open to citizens of
some of the best shopping in the world!most countries. To qualify, you need only be over
One of the few things that lend a "Third-world"50, show you can bring a guaranteed income of
feel to the capital are the open-air night market,about $1300 per month into Malaysia (or open a
where local merchants peddle everything fromsavings account in Malaysia with $40,000), and
fresh fruit and vegetables, to meat and fish, tohave a local sponsor (which can easily be
exotic animals and traditional handicrafts.arranged).
All the major newspapers are available atPenang, a small island off the northwest coast,
newsstands, including the Wall Street Journal, USAhas been called the "Pearl of the Orient" and its
Today, the Financial Times, the Internationalbeaches are a favorite tourist destination. The
Herald Tribune and The New York Times. Cablecoastline is also dotted with many small, quiet
and satellite TV provides access to a wide varietyseaside villages. The tropical rainforests and
of English-language programming, including CNN,jungles offer many opportunities for exploring lush
the Discovery Channel, Filmnet and many more.mountains, trekking through the jungle, or even
Despite the local Muslim population not drinkingtaking a riverboat safari. The bountiful sea
alcohol, Kuala Lumpur has some of the liveliestsurrounding Malaysia provides for some of the
nightlife in the region and there are more than abest scuba diving and fishing anywhere in the
fair share of clubs and bars, where tourists,world (Malaysia's seas are home to the Black
expatriates and locals alike mingle and party.Marlin, tuna, mackerel, sailfish, barracuda and a
Though the official religion of Malaysia is Islam,host of other species).
great tolerance is shown for other religions, withPRACTICAL BENEFITS
many beliefs being represented and theirMedical care is good, with excellent hospitals and
adherents practicing openly, including Christians,clinics in all the major towns. Doctors speak
Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists and Jews (the nearestEnglish, and the majority gained their qualifications
synagogue is in neighboring Singapore).in Western Europe or North America.
Compared with other major Asian cities (Tokyo,Although foreign residents must arrange private
Singapore, and Hong Kong, for example), Kualahealth insurance, visiting tourists who have an
Lumpur is downright cheap. Even in theaccident are entitled to free emergency
over-priced tourist spots you can get a goodtreatment in public hospitals. A consultation with a
meal for two for around $20. Outside of theseprivate doctor in most cases will cost just $8 to
places, a 3-course meal for two with all the$15.
trimmings, including drinks, will set you back noWhen it comes to banking, management methods
more than $10...a doctor's visit $8 to $15 andand the range of services offered closely follow
live-in domestic help $200 a month.the British model. Plus, most major world banks
Rental properties are readily available and nothave full-service branches in Malaysia.
overly expensive by American or EuropeanMany expatriates living here off investment
standards. The cost of 2-bedroom rentalincome keep their cash growing tax free in
apartments begins at around $225 per month,Labuan, an offshore tax haven administered by
with 3-bedroom houses starting at $35,000.Malaysia, and then bring into the mainland what's
Naturally, comparable housing in expatriateneeded for living expenses. Labuan is also perfect
communities or the luxurious suburban homes thatfor anyone looking for a private, offshore bank
date from British colonial period can set you backaccount, a tax-free corporation, a trust, or other
considerably more.offshore structures.
Other properties recently on offer include:Led by Malaysian Airlines, the national carrier, the
A 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom, 725-square-footisland is served by many major airlines, linking it
apartment with a dining room, a kitchen, ceilingthe world through its international airports. A good
fans, a walk-in closet, and parking, costs $45,215.network of modern roads covers the distances
A small two-story bungalow with 2 bedrooms, 1between towns, and Malaysian telecommunications
bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a diningare among the best in the world.
room going for $35,700.If you've ever thought about living overseas, you
A penthouse apartment, close to downtown, withowe it to yourself to investigate Malaysia.