Kuala Lumpur questions..

[NatD1]

A move to KL may be in the offing. We've visited on holiday and really enjoyed it but living there is a whole different ballgame.

I've gone through loads of past MN threads and wondering if anyone is still living there and wouldn't mind giving me some guidance.

The usual relo questions. Up to date info on schools. Areas to live in. Medical. What groups to join so I don't go out of my mind with boredom!

Even though we've done the expat thing in Asia for over 10 years. It still seems a big decision to make. So thanks in advance for any help and advice.

I'm still in KL, but here 12 years.

Happy to answer anything!

It's a big expat community, several schools and areas to choose from, depends what you're looking for really.

Schools to look at:
Alice Smith
Garden International
Desa Park City School
British School

Depends on school and where you'd be working re area to live really. Personally, I'd choose a school first.

Fire Away!!!

Sorry that should read Been here 12 years.

Can write longer reply now

If you're working in the city, there are reasonable communtes from Bangsar, Taman Seputeh, Mont Kiara, Ampang.

Longer commute, further out so a lot more house for your money - Desa park city, Valencia, Sierramas.

Assuming you want UK curriculum, the above schools are the big four.
IB/US curriculum at ISKL, Mont Kiara international (MKIS)

There is the ABWM (Assosciation of British Women in Malaysia) - quite traditional expat women IME, but I've not been a member for a good few years so will stand corrected. If you have pre-schoolers, look at IBU Family Resource group.

My kids are at Alice Smith, but I have friends at the other three UK curriculum schools. IME as follows:

British school: most expensive and still new, Fantastic campus. Secondary school largely untested. It's in Bandar Utama which is not a particularly expat area, and a good way out of town.

Garden International (second most expensive) - very large school on one site - nursery to 6th form, very built up area, traffic a nightmare. Owned by Taylors group which own several schools in Malaysia and Singapore. Strong academic reputation.

Alice Smith (third most expensive) - not for profit trust , established 1946, so the oldest in KL. Two campuses, so feels smaller than GIS. Primary Campus is in Bukit Petaling which is quite green, secondary is in Seri Kemabangan, a good way out of town. Good parent community. Most "British" of the UK schools- approx 35% UK/Irish.

Desa Park City School (ISP) - cheapest of the four- but there is not a lot in it really. Still new, but a good parent community. Very "international"- bigger mix of nationalities than Alice Smith.

Thanks fatowl for the info on schools, that is just what I needed. Also on our 'maybe' list are Nexus and IGB. If you've heard anything about them?

I have 11 year old twins who have always done IB (we do love it) but thinking maybe it's a good time to change system with the option of many British curriculum schools on offer in KL. Plus an expected contract finish when they are aged 16, having IGCSE's would make a UK return much easier than MYP.

Another silly worry in my head. Hopefully my daughter will be finished with her braces before we move but if she isn't - are there any good orthodontists / dentist you can recommend? I read a lot about dentistry tourism but that's not really helpful to us.

My DH travels a lot with his job so we don't have to worry too much about him being close to his office. We'll base area around the kids school / ease of shopping / possible friends in expat areas. (This is new to me as I've always shied away from expat areas in the past - I must be going soft in my old age). Like the look of Desa Park, Damansara Heights, Bangsar and Bangsar South (but doesn't seem to be any school bus routes for there at the moment). Although we are very lucky to have freedom on schooling budget, housing will be tighter. Would dearly love a 4 bed for absolute maximum 7,000myr a month (unfurnished). Do you think this is possible? gated community or condo - which is safer? (as I'll be alone most of the time but I'm a tough cookie and used to that)!

Safety, is it really as bad as people make out? I'm not a flash person decked out in designer goods worth stealing but would like to drive to the supermarket and leave kids at school bus stop without worrying.

Last on my list of things whizzing round my brain. Leasing a car. We've always bought a car on previous postings but it's a pain when we leave / servicing etc. Again I've been googling and it's all very vague. Everything seems to be about haggling prices. If true, I really will have to get used to that!

Sorry I pressed post before saying I really appreciate your help.

Thank you.

I don't live there but DSis did for about 4 v happy years. Lived ampang, taught in KL

I never ever felt unsafe, compared to eg Islamabad, Nairobi, etc. ok, maybe a but less safe than the main parts of eg Beijing but only because you didn't have a detail following you and it's a freer society. taxis cheap and pleasant and reasonably competent. I found public transport really easy and people helpful. outstanding medical care for DSis, our DM, etc. DSis found it one of the easiest postings, I think,

Not sure if that helps.

Oh, and yes haggling, and yes they leased.

And yes they were a gated community. But with friends in condo. I preferred gated because you could wander down yo the pool and sit outside more easily. Pool was v important. Need to avoid coconuts falling on head. Am serious.

Capewrath - thank you. That's really positive and makes me feel reassured.

I'd been thinking about houses - monkeys and mosquitoes potentially being a problem. Now I'll factor in coconuts too

IGB is near Valencia, flash new building but nowhere near full, looks practically deserted. I'm sure it will pick up but it is commanding very high fees for a brand new school with no track record.

Nexus is in Putrajaya, a good way from anywhere, it is not the British expat hub my any means, and there is literally nothing in putrajaya re shops, expat groups etc. Nice enough school though.

You could probably get a four-bedroom for 7k, but it would be without a pool for that budget, and not in one of the very popular expat communities. You probably would in Desa Park city though, or an older property in Bukit Damansara or bangsar. If you don't mind a condo, look at Sri Wangsaria in Bangsar, it's an older condo so less than the very flashy new developments, but popular as it's a good location, all the school buses stop there.

I've lived in three different houses here , two in Bukit Damansara, on in Bangsar, all stand alone not gated, though my current barrier over the road, but they can't stop anyone coming in really.
I've always felt safe in my house, but you have to do what you are comfortable with. Being in a gated community or condo does not stop burglaries etc. You just have to be sensible. My dh works away a fqair bit as well.
Going to the Supermarket is fine.
I wait with my kids in the morning as it is dark and I don't want them waiting a long time if the bus is delayed. But I do let them walk back from the bus stop on their own (about five min walk) - I take pity on them if it's raining and meet them with the car!

We have orthodonists, no worries there.

We've never leased a car, we've only had two since we got here 12 years ago, we bought our first one from a departing expat when we arrived, and bought new about six years ago.

Mosquitos no worse than many other places. Better than North of Sweden and Scottish midges. Just do the normal stuff, including wearing things to cover wrists and ankles at twilight.

Most important kit, an umbrella. Rains at regular points during day. And DSis and I found sandal type shoes helpful. Rain pours in and then out.

If sudden desire for different shops, coaches to Singapore v easy.

In fact don't despise the coach at all. All sorts and prices from posh air conditioned to local. We as a family came back on local from malacca to kl, basic but just fine. Everyone helpful.

We also flew. Great internal service. Langkawi fabby holiday island, though don't know about Thai / other refugees now.

If I were opting, I would go for pool rather than house if I had to choose, tho depends on your family.

Thanks both of you for your guidance. Most things you've mentioned seem very similar to our life at the moment which is good to know. If we get the go ahead (should know for definite in a few weeks) I'm looking forward to visiting the schools and deciding where's the best fit for our family.

If anyone else in KL has anything to offer on areas and schools. I'd still love to hear your views. In particular living in the Desa Park area as that's where I'm leaning towards at the moment.

Thanks again!

Desa park city is a good way out of the city and unless you want desa park city school, no other school buses run there.
That said, it had a fairly large expat community and a few shops.
Lots of building work going on atm

But there is building work everywhere in kl having said that .

Hi fatowl. I read that many BSKL people are out at Desa Park? It looks drive able on a map (but I know KL traffic is madness) so maybe not as easy as it looks.

Desa Park area ticks many boxes on what we're looking for but until we have a good look round we won't know for certain.

My kids are used to an hour one way on the school bus. If we live anywhere with a shorter journey than that - they'll be delighted! There 'must have' on the list is other children. Currently we're far out of the city and nowhere near ex pat areas so no school friends to play with easily. (The local kids are lovely but differing school schedules / holidays make that near impossible too).

If a swimming pool is available Well that's it. Signed and sealed. They'd be there within a few hours!

Hope you're all ok in the haze - a day off for the kids must be an unexpected treat. I thought We'd finally leave air pollution and smog haze behind but seems like no such luck. Nowhere's perfect!

Hi nat
The Haze is really depressing and I'm really down on KL at the moment, so probably not the best person to sell it to you at the moment. Kids are bored

BSKL to Desa Park City would take about 30-45 mins in rush hour traffic, about 20 in the middle of the day, so do-able.

If they really want lots of expat kids and freedom socially, look at Valencia. Close enough to DPC if that's the school you're looking at and a big secure, mature compound with excellent clubhouse, very popular with expats even though it Kids ride their bikes all over the place. Clubhouse even does non-Halal breakfasts! 's a good way out of town- bit more expensive than DPC though.
Buses run to Alice Smith and GIS from Valencia, so assume they would to British school as well.

Sorry don't know what happened to that middle bit- should read

very popular with expats even though it's a fair way out of the city.

If you do FB, can I suggest you join this group:
www.facebook.com/groups/604596279595630/?fref=nf

Lots of very up to date info regarding where to live etc, plus loads of people selling cars/household stuff as they leave

When I first googled KL rentals, Valencia came up and I thought that looks nice - we could live there. I want to get on with things and go look.

Thanks for the FB link. I've requested to join.

((Hugs)) for you. It's a hard slog when the air pollution is bad. Seems to go on forever and puts a downer on life.