Foreigners feeling right at home in Malaysia

The Star

10 hours ago

PETALING JAYA: Shaden Hsing (pic), a 51-year-old Taiwanese busi­­ness consultant, has made himself quite at home in Malaysia.
Since arriving in the country three years ago, he has establi­shed a company and bought a house in Cyberjaya, residing there on a work visa.
As someone who has travelled extensively, he found that Malay­sia stands out for its convenience and cultural inclusivity.
'Last year, I took 91 international trips where I provided advice and conducted training around the world. From South-East Asia to the Americas and the Middle East, I've never found a place with this level of accessi­bility and connectivity,' he said.
Living in Cyberjaya, Hsing likes Malaysia's road networks.
'As soon as you step outside, you're quickly linked to highways. While Malaysia doesn't have an underground metro system like Taiwan, its expressway connections are better than some of our neighbouring countries,' he said.
Hsing also praised Malaysia's cul­tural and linguistic diversity. During a visit to KLCC, he heard at least eight different languages being spoken.
'Malaysia's natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and peaceful coexistence of different ethnic and religious communities are hard to find elsewhere in Asia, except perhaps in Singapore,' he said.
Hsing was also impressed with the independent schools and the environment that encourages multi­lingual learning.
'Malaysia offers a more inclusive atmosphere for raising children,' said Hsing, who also works as an education consultant.
Food is another major attraction for him.
'It's so easy to find authentic cuisine from different countries here – Malay, Chinese, Indian and even Middle Eastern food.
'Expe­riencing Ramadan was something totally new for me.
'Food in Malaysia is a celebration of its multicultural identity,' he said.
'I've truly immersed myself in the local culture. When I reach retirement age, I plan to apply for the relevant visa to settle here permanently,' he added.
Hsing is among the foreigners who have found the country as a desirable place to retire.
Malaysia is regularly named in lists of favourable places to retire.
Just last month, Forbes named Malaysia as one of the top retirement destinations for 2025, citing its affordable living costs, cultural richness and English-speaking envi­ronment. It based its verdict on the costs, amenities, healthcare, language, crime rates and climate risk.
In singling out George Town, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Melaka, the report said: 'Malaysia draws United States retirees to its steamy South-East Asia climate for its low cost of living, outdoor vistas and exotic mix of cultures.'
It pointed out that English is widely spoken but acknowledged that 'crime can be a problem, and flooding is a natural hazard risk'.
International Living Magazine, which billed itself as the world's number one resource for global lifestyle since 1979, listed Malaysia in the seventh spot in its Top Ten list of 'Best Places to Retire in 2025'.
It is one of only two Asian countries in the list, besides Thailand. (Panama was named in the top spot.)
The report singled out Malay­sia's affordability, vibrant food scene and 'excellent connectivity, making it easy for retirees to tra­vel both within the country and internationally'.
It pointed out that in Kuala Lumpur, one-bedroom apartments rent for between RM1,400 and RM2,300 monthly, with utilities averaging RM190 to RM280, while local meals are priced as low as RM9 to RM14.
Another foreigner, who only wanted to be named as Herbert, is a Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa holder who now resides in Kuala Lumpur and owns property there.
For over a decade, Malaysia has been home to him and his partner who is also a MM2H visa holder.
'I can drive out easily to get my groceries, the cost of living is affordable and the variety of restaurants is impressive,' he said.
For Herbert, the weather and absence of major natural disasters were among the key reasons for choosing Malaysia for his retirement.
'I have health insurance, so access to doctors and medical treatment here isn't a problem.
'In recent years, I've noticed encouraging developments in elder care, including better quality retirement homes,' he said.
'When the time comes and I'm no longer mobile, I may consider moving into one of these facilities.'