Do They Speak English In Malaysia?

Malaysia is a country that has a long history, especially with England when it was a colonial power in the region. The English occupied Malaysia from 1826 to 1957. With English ruling Malaysia for over 120 years you would expect that the English language would be popular in the country. So do they speak English in Malaysia?

Yes, but it can largely depend on where you are and who you are speaking to. English is widely spoken in main cities and tourist areas but not in the more rural areas. The official language of Malaysia is Malaysian Malay, and English is an active second language. Where English is compulsory in schools in Malaysia.

In this post, we will go through whether they speak English in Malaysia. Let’s get started!

Read More About Malaysia

• Is There Any Elephant Sanctuary In Malaysia?
• Is It Safe To Drive In Malaysia?
• Does It Snow In Malaysia?
• Is Malaysia Expensive For Backpackers?
• Is Malacca Safe For Tourists?
• Do They Eat Pork In Malaysia?

Do They Speak English In Malaysia?

Yes, they do speak English in Malaysia. However the official language of Malaysia is Malaysian Malay, and English is an active second language. Where English is compulsory in schools in Malaysia.

It can largely depend on where you are and who you are speaking to. Typically English is widely spoken in main cities and tourist areas but not in the more rural areas. Older people will more than likely not be able to speak English.

Do Malaysians Speak Good English?

Malaysians speak fairly good English throughout the country. You will find English is commonly spoken in places like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi. While is less spoken in rural areas and less touristy areas.

Is Malaysia Safe To Visit?

Malaysia is a safe country to visit for tourists. But like any other country, it does have issues with petty crimes like bag-snatching and pickpocketing as well as scams. To stay safe in Malaysia you do need to use basic common sense and be aware of the issues of petty crime and scams.

Is It Safe To Drink The Tap Water?

No, drinking tap water in Malaysia is not safe. The locals don’t drink straight out of a tap cause they think that there is a bad smell, and bad taste, and sometimes the water is brown which is caused by old, dirty, and rusty pipes.

When Is The Best Time To Travel To Malaysia?

Malaysia is considered a tropical paradise due to its warm weather. The average temperature can be between 25ºC to 35ºC.

The rainy season on the west of the peninsula is normally between April to October. The rain lasts only for a short period.

The East Coast has a heavier rainy season between November to February. During these rainy months, many of the beach resorts close and re-open in March.

Based on this I would recommend going just after the rainy season, between February and September.

Does Malaysia Have Decent WiFi?

Malaysia does have good WiFi, especially in the major cities but on the islands, it can become less reliable. Overall the WiFi in Malaysia is fairly good.

Wrapping Up

Finally, it can largely depend on where you are and who you are speaking to. English is widely spoken in the main cities and tourist areas but not so in the more rural areas. The official language of Malaysia is Malaysian Malay, and English is an active second language. Where English is compulsory in schools in Malaysia.

And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on whether they speak English in Malaysia has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.

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