I'm currently in Thailand, and I certainly prefer living here over the US. But even here there are downsides (Heat can be tough right around this time of year. Harder to stay here long term. Low English speaking. Somewhat hierarchical culture).

Every country has downsides and I think we should not be ashamed to talk about them, after all we live in the country we do because we choose to (hopefully). I'd like to ask the forum what you feel are the downsides of Malaysia compared to wherever you came from, thanks.

We love living in Malaysia and have been made very welcome by our many Malaysian friends.
Down sides?

well the phrases:-
1 Its OK Lah! when it clearly is not OK
2 I will come tomorrow!........by various plumbers/builders/TM etc ( tomorrow means next week)
3 Its not my job!

these can be a bit frustrating at times but one gets to live with those

Beer is a bit pricey too!!
Pickled onions/ Branston pickle are as rare as rocking horse droppings in Melaka necessitating trips to KL or Singapore.

But generally the food, climate golf etc is just great!.

On the whole try to fit in and roll with the punches and you can have a wonderful time here.

In general I love it here in Malaysia, it’s a wonderful country in many ways.

But of course there are negatives, just as there are negatives elsewhere.

As a guest of Malaysia, I think it's best to avoid criticising the country too much – it’s too easy to forget that you are either talking to Malaysians, or may be overheard by Malaysians, who may be offended by what you say. And I’ve met expats here whose only conversation seems to be to moan and groan about Malaysia.

I have found the downsides change the longer I live here. You get over the simple and minor annoyances in the first year or two as part of settling in.

If you plan to stay a while, it’s informative to do a Google search for 'Why Malaysians want to leave Malaysia' or similar. It seems that what irks me now is often the same as what irks many Malaysians themselves.

JC3

Got to agree, if you can manage to get through the first two years in Malaysia you are probably going to stay long-term.

Overall the little things that irk me in Malaysia are trivial in comparison to the big things that irked me in Europe (continual intrusion, high cost of living, poor quality of life, poor schools, thieving taxes, etc.)

Although, yes, the cost of beer is more expensive than Europe, I understand the Malaysian governments views on that and at least it is available - unlike parts of the middle east. Instead of drinking a bottle of wine in the evening (as I was accustomed to do in Europe), I have one or two chilled beers - healthier and more refreshing.

Equally, there are some that complain about this and that (smelly drainage, litter and such things) and while it's not perfect, I don't find it any worse than in Europe - just different.

The complainers tend not to hang around too long anyway...

Yes indeed, complaining is a kind of limbering up for a departure.

We tend to under-estimate the self-fulfilling nature of complaining - it reinforces our discontent rather than helping us get over it. So Twixy, the fact that few people may rise to your challenge does not necessarily mean anything in itself.

For myself, there is much more I miss about Penang when I am not there than anything which disappoints when I am there.

Fully agree we rarely leave home apart from the odd trip to see the youths of the family nearby and can't wait to get back.
We had many rented places and moved every few years when I was working to accommodate budgets.
Built this place 3 years ago or so and they only way out for me is in a box!
This is home now...........

As a now mainly armchair sportsman ( golf excepted) the coverage of sport is brilliant from my point of view. Almost every Prem game live, F1 Moto GP, 6 Nations etc.
A day out at Sepang for a world class event is as cheap as chips.
Beats Sky Sports to a pulp.
Yup can still run to a few Tigers and Kingfishers to ease the pain of watching your team loose week after week.

Humidity.

I can think of lots of Upsides though.

It's hot, but is it really that humid?

[UPDATE]

Ughh! 79% humidity for Penang today - yes, you are right - it is quite humid.

Forecast for later part of the week is 3 days of Thunderstorms - Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

Can't wait.

The downsides? No Ikea in Sabah. On the other side one upside is the view from the terrace .. (who needs telly!)

One thing I was warned about before coming was not to bring any furniture as European furniture (mainly made of pine) doesn't survive in the tropics due to the combination of heat and humidity.

I've no idea whether this is actually true or not.

Hi kingoflostfools, certainly not true from my experience. I have had many pieces in Sabah for nearly 4 years (mainly my own home made solid pine and varnished bookcases, a bureau and other bits) including a huge waxed pine sideboard and solid European oak furniture. Not a mark on anything. The only thing that has suffered is a piece of cheap Chinese oak furniture bought through ebay.co.uk which looks like it is sweating but the wood is sound. The other thing that does suffer is leather which goes mouldy and requires occasional washing and applying hide food. BTW I can also buy pinewood from Canada in a shop KK, both untreated and pressure impregnated. I miss Screwfix.

You've hit the nail on the head, Hovite.

I miss Screwfix too!

JC3

Wow Hovite - that terrace is marvellous !
Would it be bad form to ask for more pictures of where you're all living, your views/terraces, etc. ? Would be very interesting for those of us still to make the move.
Thanks,
F.

oooweeee all that jungle Do you get any little visitors from the jungle?

I feel a new thread coming on. Actually there was a topic doing the rounds maybe 2 years ago, across various sub-forums, View from your front door / back door / balcony. Think I'll kick one of those off again.