anyone here living in Malaysia?

[sanam2010]

can we have a thread to get together British expats in Malaysia? am thinking of moving there with two preschoolers and would love to chat and exchange ideas about places, kindergartens, etc etc...

[fatowl]

Good luck!

Up for the morning and bright and breezy (not) so can type a more comprehensive answer re school.

In your position, I'd get school places first, then worry about where to live

Are you looking for places in Y6 and Y3?
Something else to consider would be, if your oldest is now in Y6 he will move to secondary next year. The Alice Smith Secondary campus is miles away and that freaks some parents out, (its a good 45 mins from the primary, and wait until school ask you to come to an event at 7pm on a friday - it may as well be the moon!). Plenty of kids do it though (inc mine), they learn the art of sleep on the bus.
Other schools have just the one campus, which makes them very large. GIS put me off because I didn't like the fact than pre-school kids were on the same massive campus as 6th formers and the area is so built up - hemmed in on all sides by high rise condos and highways. (we had come from a one form entry village school in the UK and it was all a bit of a shock!) Alice Smith Primary is in a greener area, and despite being a five form entry, still feels like a "British village school". ALso the admissions person at GIS was really bloody rude (as if she was doing us a huge favour showing us around), but this was 2003, so likely not a problem anymore.

When I first arrived in KL, those were the only two choices, but there is now ISP (Desa park City school)-a new school, and still untested as far as results go. Their first cohort of Y11 are sitting GCSEs this year. It has a nice atmosphere, lovely staff, but it's location is not great (unless you live in either DPC itself or Valencia (or one of the other gated communities around Sungai Buloh)- this puts your dh a good 45 mins out of town, going with the traffic both ways could easily take 90 mins. (no train).
British school I don't know a huge amount about but its location is also not fantastic (Bandar Utama), but its fees are very high, and the general consensus is they are overcharging for a largely untested school (no GCSE results yet)- they do have an amazing campus and shareholders to pay for though. Headteacher has a huge chip on her shoulder if anyone compares them to AS.
IGB I know nothing about, except its new and and not far from DPC/Valencia. Fees look hideously expensive for a new school.

Unfortunately, arriving when you are at short notice, you might have to go for where you can get a place.
Please do avoid the following though:
ELC (Sungai Buloh)- claims to be an International school, but in reality a very strict old fashioned private school, ruled by the iron fist of its owner. High staff turnover and poor facilities.
HELP International school - new campus but poor admin organisation, poor location, poor teaching staff - just poor in general apparently.
Fairview-treat their teachers appallingly, atrocious management, chaotic enviroment

In the event of not being able to get into AS, GIS, BSKL or ISP, you could look at Tenby school in Shah Alam. Not used by a huge number of expats (mainly local parents) but I hear mixed reviews, some great. It could be a stop gap school while waiting for one of the other schools. If you go on a waiting list, if you are UK passport holders, you should get priority at AS (but you might still be looking at a wait).

[Barbie1]

Bonny is this your first overseas posting?

From experience I would do the following before hand.

Install Skype. A must to stay in contact. Some countries (like the UAE) have blocked it so you have to install before arriving. Not sure about Malaysia.

Make lots of copies of passports, birth certs, driving licenses etc.

Also make sure you have a steady supply of passport photos of the entire family. Nothing worse than having to drive around a new place to find somewhere to print them off.

Apply for your international driving license in the uk. It's valid for a year.

Join ibu family and a few other local forums to get a feel for the place. No doubt somebody will be asking questions you have wondered about yourself.

Stock up on medicines that you and the children might take regularly, it will take a while to source replacements. Likewise if you are taking contraceptive. See if your doctor will prescribe 6-12 months for you so you don't end up on a local brand, which fails and leaves you up the duff...like me

Arrange the Royal Mail redirection service. This buys you 6-12 months to start redirecting bank statements and other personal mail. When we first relocated many moons ago, we had it all directed to my parents address who would forward it to is if important.

Make sure you dc's are up to date with injections and bring over a record. The schools require this.

I'll add once I think of more...

Oh and download the app called waze. It's an upto date gps system which helps to beat the traffic here. Use it when searching for house locations and there proximity to schools and work.

[fatowl]

I second using Waze, been here 10 years, know KL pretty well and still use it all the time. Good directions and very accurate. Also adjusts your route to avoid traffic and gives a pretty accurate eta.

[BonnyFitTracy]

Thanks! Been in touch with AS School, apparently because of my dc's birthdays, they's be Year 5 and Year 2 (though currently just started Primary 6 and 3 in Aberdeenshire?!) - there is a 'very short wait' for Year 2 so checking what that means; space in Year 5. Saw distance between primary and secondary but we could look at living somewhere in betweenish then dh still not so far from KLCC. It is our preferred choice from what we've seen/read...
First overseas posting (for whole family; dh did one on his tod years back before kids) though we are currently up in the very NE of Scotland with our families based down in far SE England/SW Wales so all set with Skype already
Thanks on the tips re: copies of important docs and passport photos...been looking up the International Driving Permit already (not license?) which we'll apply for through Post Office.
Luckily no regular meds to sort, will stock up on DEET (Jungle Formula) and Calpol/Paracetamol-type stuff(?); phew, sorted on the contraception front with longer-term solution so no need to fret on that!
All vaccinations already done (plan had originally been Jakarta but fell thru) in June so that's organised.
Thanks on the Royal Mail redirection tip - had been concerned on that and nagging dh to find out what happens with our mail under the relocation - it was bad enough when we moved from Aberdeen city into the Shire last year!!
I'll look up Waze too.....please keep 'em coming if you think of anything else, this is FAB!

[Boleh]

Definitely bring a breadmaker. I'm out in the sticks in Miri ;-) but can easily get white high protien (bread) flour and instant yeast and usually brown bread flour from the organic shop. I've never managed to get wholegrain flour so it's the main thing visitors are asked to bring along with proper chocolate and yoghurt powder! I think both bread flour and yoghurt will be more common in KL. Remember to store the yeast in the fridge as the heat degrades it especially when it's been opened (applies to almost everything actually!).

[LoopyLoopyLoopy]

I would definitely look at Bangsar. Great food, bars, everything you need shop-wise, on the LRT and only 25-30 mins from AS secondary.

[Boleh]

Interesting to hear someone advising you have to get a prescription for contraception - I can just buy microgynon over the counter here! Can also easily get paracetamol, much harder to find ibuprofen. I haven't yet seen antihistamines here (maybe available from pharmacy) so stock up on those and yes to jungle formula (or stronger is available from outdoor shops) and Boots DEET wipes are awesome for keeping in your handbag for unexpected evenings outside - we bought out one store when we were last in the UK!
My biggest problem is buying clothes (particularly bras) I'm a UK size 12/14 and quite tall but KL has more international brands so you might be OK there. I'm currently waiting in the airport for a flight back to the UK and we've checked an empty suitcase!
Malaysia is Fab, you'll have a great time :-)

[fatowl]

If AS have spaces, I would jump at it. "Very short" probably means half a term or so, and once you have your older one on roll, your younger one will become absolutely top of the list.
Worst case scenario, bring some Y2 workbooks to keep them going if you end up homeschooling for half a term (I did this when we arrived - also for Y2, we arrived in Sept, got a place in Jan, had a Y5 who went straight in Sept)

Honestly, don't worry too much about the secondary location, I'd look at living in Taman Seputeh, very very close to the Primary campus, and you could drop your dh at KL sentral to get the LRT to KLCC if you only want one car (about 5/10 mins).
If your eldest is going into Y5, you are 2 years away from Secondary and by the time comes, it will be fine!

[fatowl]

YYY to large bras - I am a 40E - no way can I find a bra here.
My dd is a 34 DD- she struggles too.

[Boleh]

No problems with installing Skype here or using FaceTime but get a UK proxy server or VPN service for your computer so you can get BBC iPlayer!!

[CrimboTango]

Boleh have you been to the international supermarket over the border in Brunei? I can't remember the name but it had a very good selection of imported foodstuff, with a mainly British flavour.

You can buy contraception OTC or at any GP surgery in Msia, cetirizine is available OTC as is piriton, just ask at the pharmacy if you can't find it on the self. Usually kept behind the counter with other medicines. Calpol equivalent is Panadol for Children I think.

[fatowl]

Antihistamines (Zyrtek and others) and Iboprufen (Nurofen) readily available in KL.
And yes, most contraceptives available OTC

(sometimes it's quite alarming what you can buy OTC)

[fatowl]

Xpost with Crimbo!

[BonnyFitTracy]

One thing which probably shouldn't be too high on my priority list for bringing over, but is, is Buchanan's Peppermint Creams - determined to clear all surrounding Tescos/Asdas/Sainsburys, etc. of all their stock before we move! Oh, and I'll add bras to the list too! Enjoy your weekend ladies!

[BonnyFitTracy]

Question on vaccinations:we've had all those recommended/requested by the company but a couple of optional ones we're pondering on, especially TB for the kids (me and dh had the jab at school but UK kids no longer get as routine; I believe babies get the BCG in Malaysia as routine). How easy are vaccinations to get out there and do the school help/advise? Or is it something we as parents just talk to HR about if we feel it necessary? Thanks girls.....

[CrimboTango]

Kids in Msia do get the BCG. You can get it done here or in any GP practice in Msia (though they may have to order it in for you). Most GP practices in Msia can do standard vaccinations, they will order in anything they don't stock. Check with HR if they have a panel of pre-approved doctors. Most big companies do as private healthcare is usually part of the staff benefit package.

[fatowl]

Vaccinations are easy peasy!
How is your move going? Did you take that place at AS?

[BonnyFitTracy]

Cool thanks, sure we'll be fine to get extra vaccs out there....
Getting there fatowl...still loads to do but had all our medicals yesterday.... Completing applications for AS right now - eeek!

[BonnyFitTracy]

Quick question....worth bringing our bicycles over to KL or not? Thank you!! :-)

[fatowl]

We brought bikes and never used them.
Roads are horrific to cycle on and there are no cycle paths.

There are serious cyclists who brave the roads, but personally I'd not bother for adults. Might be worth bringing kids bikes to cycle around the garden (or Gated community if you live in one of those), but serious cycling - no.

[fatowl]

www.expatgomalaysia.com/article/1942/5-things-you-should-know-about-driving-in-malaysia

Thinking of cycling in Malaysia? Or even driving?

[CrimboTango]

Gosh no! Don't cycle in KL especially. Kids can cycle in parks safely but traffic is horrendous and KL drivers are notoriously aggressive so on road cycling is very risky. Also don't trust zebra crossings, pedestrian crossings with traffics lights are ok but drivers just ignore zebra crossings.

[Barbie1]

Just popping in to see how your are doing?

We have been here just short of a month it feels like forever. Very easy to settle in, mind you as it's our 5th posting this could be just because we are more used to it.

Have you got a relocation date yet?

[BonnyFitTracy]

Thanks for all that on bikes....think they'll be going into storage then! Hi Barbie1, still waiting on exact date to come over but supposed to be early-mid October so not long in theory!

[fatowl]

You'll be starting school after half term then?