| Asia's best-kept secret for expatriates, | | | | It comes fully furnished and has 2 bedrooms, |
| Malaysia has a vibrant mix of foreign and | | | | 1 bathroom, a kitchen, and a dining room. The |
| indigenous tribal cultures, creating a | | | | asking price? $75,000. |
| veritable melting pot of peoples, traditions | | | | |
| and religions. | | | | A spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, |
| | | | 2500-square-foot condominium with a large |
| A sizable enclave of foreigners (Brits, | | | | living room, an elegant dining room, a fully |
| Americans, Australians, and Canadians) live | | | | equipped kitchen, and a pantry, for $125,250. |
| full time or maintain holiday homes in | | | | |
| Malaysia, and you'll find that just about | | | | Though there are expensive restaurants and |
| everybody speaks English, since its | | | | accommodations, there's simply no reason for |
| compulsory in local schools. | | | | you to check into a five-star hotel when you |
| | | | can stay in a clean, friendly hotel in the |
| Not only are three world-class playgrounds | | | | city center for $40 a night where every meal |
| (Thailand, Bali, and the Philippines) all | | | | costs less than $5 per person. |
| within a few hour's travel from Malaysia, but | | | | |
| with miles of white sand coastline, tropical | | | | CRIME-FREE AND FOREIGNER FRIENDLY |
| islands, and beachfront property galore, it | | | | |
| has all the makings of a fairy-tale setting. | | | | Of course, cheap living shouldn't be the only |
| | | | deciding factor when choosing a new home. As |
| Despite being the capital of a developing | | | | well as being very affordable, Malaysia is |
| nation, Kuala Lumpur is a modern cosmopolitan | | | | safe.The government's real no tolerance |
| with clean streets and sidewalks and every | | | | policy means street crime is virtually |
| modern convenience to found in New York or | | | | nonexistent. |
| London. Home to the tallest building in the | | | | |
| world, there are also FedEx and UPS offices, | | | | The Malaysian government, through its |
| international banks, English cinemas and | | | | "Silver-Haired Program," offers expatriate |
| bookstores, western-style supermarkets, | | | | resident retirees extremely attractive |
| French and German bakeries, Chinese, Indian, | | | | benefits. Outside of nationals of Israel and |
| and Italian restaurants, gourmet coffee, | | | | Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), the |
| Cuban cigars, Internet cafés and some of | | | | program is open to citizens of most |
| the best shopping in the world! | | | | countries. To qualify, you need only be over |
| | | | 50, show you can bring a guaranteed income of |
| One of the few things that lend a | | | | about $1300 per month into Malaysia (or open |
| "Third-world" feel to the capital are the | | | | a savings account in Malaysia with $40,000), |
| open-air night market, where local merchants | | | | and have a local sponsor (which can easily be |
| peddle everything from fresh fruit and | | | | arranged). |
| vegetables, to meat and fish, to exotic | | | | |
| animals and traditional handicrafts. | | | | Penang, a small island off the northwest |
| | | | coast, has been called the "Pearl of the |
| All the major newspapers are available at | | | | Orient" and its beaches are a favorite |
| newsstands, including the Wall Street | | | | tourist destination. The coastline is also |
| Journal, USA Today, the Financial Times, the | | | | dotted with many small, quiet seaside |
| International Herald Tribune and The New York | | | | villages. The tropical rainforests and |
| Times. Cable and satellite TV provides access | | | | jungles offer many opportunities for |
| to a wide variety of English-language | | | | exploring lush mountains, trekking through |
| programming, including CNN, the Discovery | | | | the jungle, or even taking a riverboat |
| Channel, Filmnet and many more. | | | | safari. The bountiful sea surrounding |
| | | | Malaysia provides for some of the best scuba |
| Despite the local Muslim population not | | | | diving and fishing anywhere in the world |
| drinking alcohol, Kuala Lumpur has some of | | | | (Malaysia's seas are home to the Black |
| the liveliest nightlife in the region and | | | | Marlin, tuna, mackerel, sailfish, barracuda |
| there are more than a fair share of clubs and | | | | and a host of other species). |
| bars, where tourists, expatriates and locals | | | | |
| alike mingle and party. Though the official | | | | PRACTICAL BENEFITS |
| religion of Malaysia is Islam, great | | | | |
| tolerance is shown for other religions, with | | | | Medical care is good, with excellent |
| many beliefs being represented and their | | | | hospitals and clinics in all the major towns. |
| adherents practicing openly, including | | | | Doctors speak English, and the majority |
| Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists and | | | | gained their qualifications in Western Europe |
| Jews (the nearest synagogue is in neighboring | | | | or North America. |
| Singapore). | | | | |
| | | | Although foreign residents must arrange |
| Compared with other major Asian cities | | | | private health insurance, visiting tourists |
| (Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong, for | | | | who have an accident are entitled to free |
| example), Kuala Lumpur is downright cheap. | | | | emergency treatment in public hospitals. A |
| Even in the over-priced tourist spots you can | | | | consultation with a private doctor in most |
| get a good meal for two for around $20. | | | | cases will cost just $8 to $15. |
| Outside of these places, a 3-course meal for | | | | |
| two with all the trimmings, including drinks, | | | | When it comes to banking, management methods |
| will set you back no more than $10...a | | | | and the range of services offered closely |
| doctor's visit $8 to $15 and live-in domestic | | | | follow the British model. Plus, most major |
| help $200 a month. | | | | world banks have full-service branches in |
| | | | Malaysia. |
| Rental properties are readily available and | | | | |
| not overly expensive by American or European | | | | Many expatriates living here off investment |
| standards. The cost of 2-bedroom rental | | | | income 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 |
| Naturally, comparable housing in expatriate | | | | what's needed for living expenses. Labuan is |
| communities or the luxurious suburban homes | | | | also perfect for anyone looking for a |
| that date from British colonial period can | | | | private, offshore bank account, a tax-free |
| set you back considerably more. | | | | corporation, a trust, or other offshore |
| | | | structures. |
| Other properties recently on offer include: | | | | |
| | | | Led by Malaysian Airlines, the national |
| A 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom, 725-square-foot | | | | carrier, the island is served by many major |
| apartment with a dining room, a kitchen, | | | | airlines, linking it the world through its |
| ceiling fans, a walk-in closet, and parking, | | | | international airports. A good network of |
| costs $45,215. | | | | modern roads covers the distances between |
| | | | towns, and Malaysian telecommunications are |
| A small two-story bungalow with 2 bedrooms, 1 | | | | among the best in the world. |
| bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a | | | | |
| dining room going for $35,700. | | | | If you've ever thought about living overseas, |
| | | | you owe it to yourself to investigate |
| A penthouse apartment, close to downtown, | | | | Malaysia. |
| with a sea-view and a 350-sqare-foot terrace. | | | | |