Mobile Working in Malaysia Summary

Malaysia doesn’t feel like Asia to me. What Asia is supposed to feel like, I do not know, but Malaysia seems too modern and organised to be a part of the chaos that can be found elsewhere on the continent. I’ve only been to three places this time around and from what I’ve seen so far, Malaysia is a very good spot for mobile working.

Pros

• Wireless internet widely available - Whenever I turn on my computer, wherever I am, there always seems to be at least a couple of wireless connections floating through the air. Hostels seem clued up to the fact that people are travelling with laptops these days and many have wifi, even outside of Kuala Lumpur.
• Internet everywhere - Anywhere without wireless will still have some kind ofnet connection available. I was on an island that only had electricity on for half the day and even they had the internet.
• Mobile connection of your own is possible - I don’t know the details because my crappy Bangladeshi phone busted just as I was leaving the country, but I think it’s possible to set something similar up in Malaysia where you can get a connection through a mobile phone. As mobile coverage here is excellent, that means a connection anywhere you may go.
• Great location for travelling in Asia - Malaysia is in a great spot if you want to get a lot of Asian travel in. KL is a hub for a few airlines including budget Air Asia and travelling from here is cheap and there are lots of great places nearby.
• Friendly people - I really like Malaysians! The ones I’ve met have been very fun loving and friendly on a level that seems more genuine to me than in other places in Asia.
• Access to perks from home - You can find pretty much anything you want from home in KL. It’s a big, modern city with all the perks that come with it so if you’re afraid of missing out on Western goodies while being in Asia then Malaysia will be a good choice.
• Lots of settings to choose from - If you want to work from the beach, you can. If you’d rather an apartment in KL, no problem. Or if you prefer a jungle setting then Malaysia has that as well. The country is varied enough to having something for everyone.

Cons

• Relatively more expensive that other Asian countries - This is me stretching to find a con because Malaysia is still a cheap place to live when compared to the UK (isn’t everywhere?) but it’s not quite as cheap as the Bangladesh and Cambodia’s of the world.
• Too much like home - I feel like KL could be any city in Canada or the UK and driving between towns in peninsular Malaysia feels the same as at home. It’s obviously a very culturally diverse place but if you’re wanting a challenge or a really big change from home then you might want to look elsewhere or try to get off the beaten path.

I’ve only spent about 10 days total in Malaysia visiting KL, the Cameron Highlands and the Perhentian Islands but I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far and could see myself spending some time kicking back on an island here getting some work done. It’s comfortable, connecting and well located and I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up back here in the future for longer than just a few days.