Malaysia Travel Guide - Communications

Country code: 60. International calls can be made from public telephones with card facilities or at any Telekom office. Public coin-operated phones can be found in many areas, such as supermarkets and post offices. Cards can be purchased at airports, petrol stations and some shops.

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

There are numerous Internet cafes. Hotels offer Internet access.

There are post offices in the commercial centre of all towns.

Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1700.

Malaysia has some very tough censorship laws. Authorities exert substantial control over the media and restrictions may be imposed in the name of 'national security'. The government strives hard to shield the Malaysian population from foreign influences that are deemed 'harmful'. News is subject to censorship, as are other programmes and films, particularly those showing swearing or kissing. Private radio stations broadcast in Malay, Tamil, Chinese and English. Newspapers renew their publication licences annually, and the danger of suspension or abolition always lurks.

• English-language dailies include Business Times, The Edge, Malay Mail, Malaysiakini, New Straits Times and The Star.
• The major Malay-language newspapers are Utusan and Berita Harian.
• English-language newspapers available in Sarawak include the Borneo Post.
• English-language dailies in Sabah include the Borneo Mail, Daily Express and Sabah Times.

• Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) is state-run and operates TV1 and TV2 networks.
• TV3, ntv7, Astro and 8TV are all commercial networks.

• Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) operates some 30 state-run radio stations across the country, plus an external service.
• Time Highway Radio is a private FM station in Kuala Lumpur.
• Era FM is another private FM station in Malaysia.