| Asia's best-kept secret for expatriates, Malaysia | | | | a sea-view and a 350-sqare-foot terrace. It |
| has a vibrant mix of foreign and indigenous tribal | | | | comes fully furnished and has 2 bedrooms, 1 |
| cultures, creating a veritable melting pot of | | | | bathroom, 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 or | | | | 2500-square-foot condominium with a large living |
| maintain holiday homes in Malaysia, and you'll find | | | | room, an elegant dining room, a fully equipped |
| that just about everybody speaks English, since | | | | kitchen, and a pantry, for $125,250. |
| its compulsory in local schools. | | | | Though there are expensive restaurants and |
| Not only are three world-class playgrounds | | | | accommodations, there's simply no reason for |
| (Thailand, Bali, and the Philippines) all within a few | | | | you to check into a five-star hotel when you can |
| hour's travel from Malaysia, but with miles of | | | | stay 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 makings | | | | per 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 clean | | | | deciding factor when choosing a new home. As |
| streets and sidewalks and every modern | | | | well 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 are | | | | street 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, gourmet | | | | nationals of Israel and Yugoslavia (Serbia and |
| coffee, Cuban cigars, Internet cafés and | | | | Montenegro), 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 from | | | | savings account in Malaysia with $40,000), and |
| fresh fruit and vegetables, to meat and fish, to | | | | have a local sponsor (which can easily be |
| exotic animals and traditional handicrafts. | | | | arranged). |
| All the major newspapers are available at | | | | Penang, a small island off the northwest coast, |
| newsstands, including the Wall Street Journal, USA | | | | has been called the "Pearl of the Orient" and its |
| Today, the Financial Times, the International | | | | beaches are a favorite tourist destination. The |
| Herald Tribune and The New York Times. Cable | | | | coastline is also dotted with many small, quiet |
| and satellite TV provides access to a wide variety | | | | seaside 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 drinking | | | | taking a riverboat safari. The bountiful sea |
| alcohol, Kuala Lumpur has some of the liveliest | | | | surrounding Malaysia provides for some of the |
| nightlife in the region and there are more than a | | | | best 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, with | | | | PRACTICAL BENEFITS |
| many beliefs being represented and their | | | | Medical 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 nearest | | | | English, 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), Kuala | | | | health insurance, visiting tourists who have an |
| Lumpur is downright cheap. Even in the | | | | accident are entitled to free emergency |
| over-priced tourist spots you can get a good | | | | treatment in public hospitals. A consultation with a |
| meal for two for around $20. Outside of these | | | | private 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 no | | | | When it comes to banking, management methods |
| more than $10...a doctor's visit $8 to $15 and | | | | and 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 not | | | | have full-service branches in Malaysia. |
| 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 what's |
| Naturally, comparable housing in expatriate | | | | needed for living expenses. Labuan is also perfect |
| communities or the luxurious suburban homes that | | | | for anyone looking for a private, offshore bank |
| date from British colonial period can set you back | | | | account, 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-foot | | | | island is served by many major airlines, linking it |
| apartment with a dining room, a kitchen, ceiling | | | | the 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, 1 | | | | between towns, and Malaysian telecommunications |
| bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a dining | | | | are 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, with | | | | owe it to yourself to investigate Malaysia. |