Retiring in Malaysia from Australia: costs, MM2H, pension and health cover (2026)

Who Malaysia suits, and what to weigh up

The 90-day visitor stay covers most of an Australian winter with no visa to arrange first. Malay is the national language, but the Government of Malaysia says English still dominates trade and industry.

Smartraveller’s advice for Malaysia overall is to exercise normal safety precautions. A higher level applies only to the coast and islands of eastern Sabah, on Borneo, because of kidnapping.

Staying past 90 days means MM2H, Malaysia’s long-stay programme, which asks for a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank (US$150,000 for the Silver tier, about A$217,000). You must also buy a home there and keep it for 10 years. If most of your money is in your house in Australia, that can put it out of reach. Sarawak, on Borneo, runs its own scheme with a smaller deposit.

It is hot and humid all year. Smartraveller says smoke haze often happens from June to October, and flooding and landslides are common in the wet season. Some laws are stricter than at home, on drugs, medicines and same-sex relationships among them.

What a month costs

Our estimate for a month in Penang is about A$2,540 for a couple and A$1,750 for one person, rent included.

A month in Penang	Couple	One person
Rent, one-bedroom flat in the centre	A$590	A$590
Living costs (food, transport, bills)	A$1,360	A$760
Eating out, local trips and extras (30%)	A$590	A$400
Total	A$2,540	A$1,750

How a month in Malaysia compares

For a couple

Malaysia, our estimate

A$2,540

Comfortable in Australia

A$6,580

Age Pension, the most paid in Australia

A$4,040

About A$4,040 a month less than a comfortable month in Australia.

For one person

Malaysia, our estimate

A$1,750

Comfortable in Australia

A$4,680

Age Pension, the most paid in Australia

A$2,680

About A$2,930 a month less than a comfortable month in Australia.

Not built the same way: Australia's figure (ASFA Retirement Standard, comfortable, June quarter 2026) assumes you own your home and includes health insurance; our estimate for Malaysia includes rent and leaves health insurance out. Age Pension: the most paid in Australia from 20 September 2026; living overseas for good, the base rate is about A$3,710 a month for a couple and A$2,460 for one person.

Our estimate: Numbeo’s living costs for one person (without rent) plus a one-bedroom city-centre rent, plus 30% for eating out, local trips and extras. For a couple, living costs times 1.8. Converted at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s average exchange rate for the 12 months to September 2026 (A$1 = 2.80 ringgit). Health insurance is not included. Numbeo’s Penang page, updated 15 October 2026, puts living costs for one person at RM2,122 a month (about A$760) and a central one-bedroom flat at RM1,648 (about A$590). Short furnished lets usually cost more than the long-term rent in this table.

Kuala Lumpur costs more, mainly because of rent. On the same method, using Numbeo’s Kuala Lumpur figures (19 October 2026), our estimate there is about A$3,190 for a couple and A$2,290 for one person. Our guide to what retiring overseas really costs sets Penang beside other places.

Against the Age Pension. After 12 weeks away, the most the pension pays is the base rate. That is about A$2,460 a month for one person and A$3,710 for a couple, before tax (rates from 20 September 2026). In Australia the most it pays is about A$2,680 and A$4,040. On our estimate, the base rate leaves about A$1,170 a month spare for a couple in Penang, and about A$710 for one person, before health insurance.

What costs more than you’d expect. Health cover is the big one, and our estimate leaves it out. Smartraveller’s page on retiring overseas says international health policies can be costly, and you may not get cover at all with a pre-existing condition. MM2H has its own costs. The processing fee is RM5,000 (about A$1,790) for the main applicant and RM2,500 (about A$890) for each dependant. Silver adds a one-off RM1,000 (about A$360), and the pass costs RM500 (about A$180) a year. On MM2H you can convert your Australian licence; otherwise an International Driving Permit covers stays under 12 months. The official MM2H site points out that most homes, cars and shops are air-conditioned, which shows up in the power bill.

Renting long term. Malaysia has no tenancy law of its own yet. Bernama reported in August 2026 that a Residential Tenancy Act is still proposed under the national housing policy for 2026 to 2035. In the meantime, landlords and tenants rely on general laws such as the Contracts Act 1950, a property news site reported in 2022. The written agreement sets the deposit and when it comes back. Tenancy agreements attract stamp duty, and since 1 January 2026 Malaysia’s tax office has run them through a self-assessment system. Before you sign, it helps to have in writing:

• the rent, and which bills and building fees it covers
• the deposit, and the date it comes back
• who pays to repair the air conditioning and appliances
• the notice either side must give to end the lease.

Photos of the flat on the day you move in help settle the deposit later.

Visas for Australians

Visiting. Smartraveller says that in most circumstances Australians can get a 90-day tourist visa on arrival. You must fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) on the Malaysian Immigration website before you land. To use the automatic gates at Kuala Lumpur’s main airport, you submit it 3 days before you arrive and need a passport valid for at least 6 months. Malaysian law requires you to carry your passport or immigration card at all times. Overstaying can mean a fine, detention or deportation.

Staying longer: MM2H. Malaysia My Second Home is run by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Immigration Department makes the final decision. Every tier needs a fixed deposit in a licensed Malaysian bank and a home you buy there (checked 21 October 2026):

MM2H tier	Minimum age	Deposit	Home to buy	Pass
Special economic zone	21; the lower deposit from 50	US$32,000 (about A$46,250) from 50; US$65,000 (about A$93,940) aged 21 to 49	In Forest City, Johor, at the state’s floor price	10 years
Silver	25	US$150,000 (about A$217,000)	RM600,000 or more (about A$214,000)	5 years
Gold	25	US$500,000 (about A$723,000)	RM1 million or more (about A$357,000)	15 years
Platinum	25	US$1 million (about A$1.4 million)	RM2 million or more (about A$714,000)	20 years

Every pass can be renewed. Currency figures use the RBA’s 12-month average rate (A$1 = US$0.6919 = 2.80 ringgit). Our guide to retirement visa ages by country compares Malaysia with its neighbours.

How long you must stay. The official overview and guidelines say participants under 50 must spend 90 days a year in Malaysia, in total, and there is no minimum from 50. The pages for each tier still say 90 days at any age, so ask the One Stop Centre which applies to you.

The rest of the rules. You apply only through an MM2H company licensed by the tourism ministry, and a notice from May 2025 says police may interview applicants at random. After approval you have a medical check-up at an appointed clinic. For Silver, Gold and Platinum you then have 1 year from the pass being endorsed to finish buying the home, which you can’t sell for 10 years except to trade up. Up to half the deposit can be drawn down for the home, health care, education or travel in Malaysia. You can’t work or run a business, except on Platinum. The official guidelines say long-term medical treatment in Malaysia is allowed while the pass is valid. To renew at the end of the term you show a valid passport, a recent medical report and health insurance.

Sarawak’s scheme. Sarawak runs a separate MM2H. Its tourism ministry says that from 1 January 2025 you must be 30 or over, with a fixed deposit of RM500,000 (about A$179,000) in a Sarawak bank for each application, spouse and dependants included. You spend at least 30 days a year in Sarawak, and the pass runs for 5 years, renewable for 5 more. In late 2024 the minister said 121 Australians had joined.

A partner under the age limit. A husband or wife comes in as a dependant on the main applicant’s pass, with no participating fee. Children up to 34 who are single and not working, and your parents or parents-in-law, can come too. If you are partners but not married, ask how that is treated.

Documents to get in Australia before you go. The official MM2H checklist asks for a police certificate for the applicant and every dependant over 18. It also asks for health insurance from applicants aged 60 and below, and a personal bond form stamped by Malaysia’s tax office. An Australian Federal Police national police check costs A$57, and the AFP says most online checks arrive within a few days; one with fingerprints costs A$114 and takes 15 to 30 business days. DFAT legalises Australian documents with an apostille or an authentication certificate, at a passport office by appointment or by mail, and Smartraveller says processing times vary. Ask your MM2H company which papers must be legalised while you are still in Australia.

For the rules that apply to you, ask Malaysia’s High Commission, the One Stop Centre MM2H or a licensed MM2H company. Read up on visa agent and property scams before you pay anyone.

Your Age Pension and Medicare in Malaysia

Services Australia says your Age Pension can keep paying while you are overseas. After 6 weeks away the Energy Supplement stops and your Pensioner Concession Card is cancelled. At 12 weeks the Pension Supplement stops completely (since 20 September 2026). The 26-week rule only touches people who lived in Australia less than 35 years between age 16 and pension age: after 26 weeks away, their rate can be reduced. Our guide to the 6, 12 and 26-week rules goes through each step.

Malaysia has no social security agreement with Australia. On the day you claim you must be living in Australia and physically here, so you claim the Age Pension before you leave. If you move for good, you get the base rate only from the day you leave: A$29,520.40 a year single, A$44,506.80 for a couple.

Department of Social Services figures released under freedom of information show 52 people getting the Age Pension in Malaysia at the end of 2025, down from 74 in 2020. They were paid an average of about A$765 a fortnight each.

Your assets. Services Australia looks at assets you own in and outside Australia, bank deposits included. An MM2H fixed deposit and a home bought in Malaysia are both assets you tell it about. How each one counts is a question for Services Australia or a licensed financial adviser. If you are away temporarily, your home in Australia stays exempt from the assets test for the first 12 months, and rent from it counts as income. Our guide on whether your house counts while you are away has the detail.

Medicare never pays for treatment in Malaysia, and Smartraveller says there is no agreement between the two countries for free health care. If you are an Australian citizen and move overseas, you can still use Medicare when you are back in Australia for up to 5 years after you leave. Visits home do not restart that clock. After that, you re-enrol when you move back. For permanent residents, enrolment ends 12 months after leaving. More in our guide to Medicare when you live overseas.

Health care and insurance

Smartraveller says private hospitals in major cities are of an international standard. Public hospitals in major cities have a good range of services, though access can be slow, and services are more limited in rural areas. Most private hospitals want a cash deposit or confirmation of insurance before they admit you, and expect payment straight away. Government hospitals want payment up front, and a deposit even if you have travel insurance.

What is where. GOV.UK keeps a list of hospitals across Malaysia, and it shows the spread. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have private and public hospitals. So do Penang, Malacca, Ipoh and Johor Bahru, each with at least one of each. On Langkawi the list shows public hospitals only.

When care means travelling. From Langkawi or a country town, private specialist care usually means a trip to Penang or Kuala Lumpur. For anything Malaysia can’t treat, or to come home sick, Smartraveller says a medical repatriation can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Australian Government won’t pay it.

Your medicines. Smartraveller says strict rules control bringing in medication, prescription or not, and some medicines legal in Australia may be illegal there. It suggests asking Malaysia’s High Commission what paperwork you need, and carrying your prescription with a doctor’s letter giving each medicine, the dose and that it’s for your own use. Our guide to taking medicines overseas has the Australian side.

Other health risks. Dengue fever is widespread, including in major cities, and the risk of insect-borne disease rises in the wet season. Rabies is present; the most recent cases were in Sarawak. When haze levels are high, Smartraveller says, authorities recommend limiting time outdoors, and it suggests checking the government’s haze warnings.

Which cover. For a visit, Smartraveller says your travel insurance must cover all medical costs overseas, including evacuation. Living there means international health insurance, and your age and health affect what it costs; our guide to international health insurance by age explains why. Ask an insurer or broker the oldest age to join, how existing conditions are treated and whether repatriation to Australia is covered. If you’re not sure where to start, book a free planning session on Zoom.

Where Australians live

There are no official figures on where Australians settle in Malaysia. Here are six places to compare, with rough driving times from Kuala Lumpur.

Area	What it’s like	Getting around	Hospital	Airport
Penang (George Town)	Island city with a heritage old town; our cost base	Flat old town, hills behind; buses and ride-hailing; about 4 hours by road	Private hospitals and a public hospital	Penang International
Kuala Lumpur	The capital; higher rents	Trains in the city; footpaths uneven in places	Private and public hospitals	Kuala Lumpur International, about an hour from the centre
Langkawi	Island off the north-west coast, quieter and spread out	Car or taxi; ferry or flight to the mainland	Public hospitals only on GOV.UK’s list	Langkawi International
Malacca	Historic port city in the south-west	Compact old town; about 2 hours by road	Private and public hospital	Kuala Lumpur International, about 2 hours
Ipoh	Smaller city in Perak, among limestone hills	Spread out; about 2 and a half hours by road	Private and public hospital	Kuala Lumpur International, about 3 hours
Johor Bahru	Southern city across the causeway from Singapore	Spread out; about 4 hours by road	Private and public hospitals	Senai International, or Singapore

Driving times are rough, and traffic stretches them.

Penang, and its capital George Town, is the base for our costs. George Town and Malacca share a UNESCO World Heritage listing as historic trading cities on the Strait of Malacca. Penang has an Australian honorary consulate, which the High Commission says offers limited consular services and accepts passport applications.

Kuala Lumpur has the Australian High Commission, rail lines and several private hospitals. The New Daily reported in 2018 that Australians there found footpaths uneven or missing, which matters if you walk with a stick or a frame.

Malacca and Ipoh are smaller cities, each 2 to 3 hours by road from the main airport.

Johor Bahru is on the border with Singapore. Forest City, the only place the special economic zone tier lets you buy, is in Johor.

Sarawak, on Borneo, runs its own MM2H, and its capital is Kuching. Smartraveller’s warning about eastern Sabah covers a different state.

Renting or buying a home

Foreigners can buy a home in Malaysia, with limits. GOV.UK says the rules vary from state to state, and points buyers to the land office of the state they are buying in.

Section 433B of the National Land Code says a non-citizen needs the state authority’s approval before acquiring land. The Ministry of Economy’s guideline on acquiring property, in force since 13 July 2022, sets a federal floor. Foreign buyers can’t buy property worth less than RM1 million (about A$357,000) a unit, and homes above that are a matter for the state. The guideline also rules out low-cost and low-to-medium-cost housing, property on Malay reserve land, and units set aside for Bumiputera buyers. It doesn’t apply to homes bought under MM2H.

States can set higher floors. Malay Mail reported in May 2026 that Penang’s are RM1 million (about A$357,000) for a flat on the island and RM3 million (about A$1.1 million) for a landed house. On the mainland side, Seberang Perai, they are RM500,000 (about A$179,000) and RM1 million (about A$357,000). On Penang island, then, the state floor for a flat sits above the Silver tier’s RM600,000 (about A$214,000) minimum.

MM2H homes. MM2H makes buying compulsory, and the home can’t be sold for 10 years, except to buy a dearer one. The special zone tier must buy in Forest City, from the developer only, before the pass is endorsed.

Who to ask. A conveyancing lawyer in Malaysia who acts for you, not the seller, can check the title, the state’s floor price and whether a unit is open to foreigners. Smartraveller suggests reviewing your will if you buy property overseas. Our guide to keeping, renting or selling the family home covers the Australian side.

Tax: there and at home

Malaysia’s tax office says residence depends on your days in Malaysia, not your nationality. The main test is 182 days or more in a calendar year. Shorter stays can count when they link to 182 days in a row across two years, or add up to 90 days a year over several years.

The tax office’s notes for 2025 returns say foreign income a resident brings into Malaysia has been taxable since 1 January 2022. Individuals have an exemption, though, from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026. The condition is that it was taxed in the country it came from, or wasn’t taxed there because it fell under the tax-free threshold. The Edge reported that Budget 2025 extends the exemption to 31 December 2036. The MM2H site says there is no tax on foreign funds or income.

Australia and Malaysia have had a tax treaty since 1980. Its article on pensions says a pension paid to a resident of one country is taxable only in that country; government service pensions follow a separate article. How that works for the Age Pension, super or rent from a house in Australia depends on your details.

At home, the ATO’s residency tests decide whether you are still an Australian resident for tax; our guide to tax residency when you retire overseas walks through them. If you become a foreign resident, you lose the tax-free threshold. Australian income such as rent is then taxed at 30% from the first dollar (2025-26), as the foreign resident tax rates show. Sell your Australian home while you are a foreign resident and there’s no capital gains tax main residence exemption, apart from narrow life events.

Talk to a registered tax agent in Australia, and to a tax adviser in Malaysia about how it treats your pension and super, before you go.

Money and banking

The ringgit is Malaysia’s currency, and Smartraveller says ATMs are widely available.

Your pension. Services Australia pays every 2 weeks into your Australian account if you’ll be away less than 12 months. Away longer, it pays every 4 weeks into an Australian or overseas account. Paid into an overseas account, the money comes in the local currency or US dollars, depending on the country, usually within 2 to 6 days. Bank fees are yours. Our guide to living overseas on the Age Pension has the numbers.

A local account. The MM2H deposit must sit with a bank licensed under Malaysia’s financial services laws, and a May 2025 notice says a ringgit deposit equal to the US dollar amount is encouraged. For an everyday account, each bank sets its own rules for foreigners, so the bank can tell you what it needs from someone on your pass.

Moving money. The main options are a transfer from your Australian bank, a currency transfer service, or cash from an ATM on an Australian card. Each charges a fee and builds a margin into its exchange rate; ask for both.

Cash and cards. Smartraveller says credit card fraud is common and cards are often copied, and suggests keeping yours in sight when you pay. When you leave Malaysia you declare more than RM30,000 (about A$10,710) or US$10,000 (about A$14,450), in any form.

Currency swings. Your pension is in Australian dollars and your costs are in ringgit. At the RBA’s 12-month average rate, RM1,000 is about A$360; if the Australian dollar fell 10%, it would cost about A$400. The MM2H deposit is set in US dollars. The Silver deposit of US$150,000 is about A$217,000 at the average rate, and about A$241,000 if the Australian dollar fell 10%.

Day to day

Language. Malay is the national language. English still dominates the language of trade and industry, the Government of Malaysia says.

Getting around without driving. Smartraveller suggests official taxis with a meter and driver ID, or reputable ride-hailing apps, and booking rather than hailing a taxi in the street after dark. The MM2H site describes public transport in the capital as reliable. Long-distance buses have had fatal crashes, often at night or in bad weather, so Smartraveller suggests avoiding overnight trips.

Driving. The Australian High Commission says that since 19 May 2025, Malaysia’s Road Transport Department converts foreign licences only for Malaysian citizens, diplomats and MM2H participants. Living there less than 12 months, you can drive on your Australian licence with an International Driving Permit, which you get before you leave Australia. Staying longer without MM2H, you go through the full Malaysian licence process. Smartraveller says you are more likely to die in a car accident in Malaysia than in Australia, and motorcyclists weave through traffic and run red lights.

Safety. Bag snatching is common, often by thieves on motorbikes, so Smartraveller suggests holding your bag on the side away from the traffic. It also says Australians have been victims of violent crime in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and elsewhere, and that online scams, romance scams among them, have increased. There is a risk of terrorism. Some islands and dive sites of eastern Sabah carry Smartraveller’s advice to reconsider your need to travel.

Laws. Drug penalties are severe and include death. Smartraveller says you may face a urine test on arrival if you’re suspected of using drugs, even ones legal where you came from. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can bring whipping and up to 20 years in prison. Insulting the rulers, the government or religion, including online, can lead to charges. Malaysia doesn’t recognise dual nationality, so dual citizens travel on their Australian passport.

Weather. Penang is warm all year, and its wettest months are September and October:

Month in Penang	Average high	Average low	Rain
January	31.8°C	23.6°C	61 mm
February	32.0°C	23.8°C	97 mm
March	32.2°C	24.0°C	129 mm
April	32.0°C	24.4°C	222 mm
May	31.7°C	24.4°C	227 mm
June	31.6°C	24.2°C	172 mm
July	31.2°C	23.8°C	184 mm
August	31.0°C	23.7°C	255 mm
September	30.6°C	23.6°C	358 mm
October	30.6°C	23.6°C	375 mm
November	30.8°C	23.6°C	216 mm
December	31.1°C	23.8°C	103 mm

Figures: the Malaysian Meteorological Department’s Penang averages for 1971 to 2000, published by the World Meteorological Organization. Smartraveller says the wet season, with flooding and landslides, usually runs from October to February.

Public holidays. Malaysia has federal holidays, such as National Day on 31 August and Malaysia Day on 16 September, and each state adds its own. During Ramadan, Smartraveller says, Muslims may not eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight, and it suggests not doing so around people who are fasting.

Making friends. The New Daily reported in 2018 that Australians in Kuala Lumpur met through Facebook groups and an Australian and New Zealand association, from mahjong to dinners. If you’re going alone, see retiring overseas single.

Getting there and coming home

BITRE’s June 2026 airline figures show non-stop flights to Kuala Lumpur from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Sydney takes about 9 hours and Perth about 5 and a half. Australian Aviation reported that the Darwin service ended on 28 April 2026. There are no non-stop flights from Australia to Penang; you connect through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Routes change, so check from your city when you book.

Malaysia is on the same time as Perth. It is 2 hours behind Brisbane, and 2 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne in our winter, 3 in daylight saving.

Your first steps

One order that works, from a first visit to living there. The right order for you depends on your health, your home and your money.

1. Ask for help first. Book a free planning session on Zoom, or contact our team. Once we understand your situation, we can point you in the right direction.
2. Spend a winter in Penang or Kuala Lumpur on the 90-day visitor stay. Our guide to the winter away covers how it works.
3. Talk it over with your partner and family early, including who would fly over if you got sick. Our guide to talking to your family has ways to start.
4. Try a longer stay before you commit. Smartraveller suggests a temporary move of 6 to 12 months; see trying before you move.
5. Put your own numbers against the pension after 12 weeks away, with health cover and MM2H costs included. See taking your Age Pension overseas.
6. Find out what health cover you can get at your age. Start with travel insurance for long stays.
7. See your GP, check each medicine with Malaysia’s High Commission and get a doctor’s letter. With an ongoing condition, read retiring overseas with a health condition.
8. Work out what happens to the house in Australia, and how a deposit and home in Malaysia count for the pension.
9. MM2H applications go through a licensed MM2H company. Ask it which papers it needs, then get the police check and any legalised documents done in Australia.
10. Some people rent for a while before buying. MM2H allows a year after the pass is endorsed to buy, and a lawyer in Malaysia can check the state’s rules first.
11. Tell Services Australia you’re going, and set up how your pension will be paid.
12. Keep a plan for coming home: coming home covers your pension and Medicare.

Questions people ask

Can I retire in Malaysia from Australia?

Yes. As a visitor you can usually stay 90 days at a time. To live there you need an MM2H pass, which means a fixed deposit and buying a home: from US$150,000 (about A$217,000) and RM600,000 (about A$214,000) on Silver. Your Age Pension keeps paying in Malaysia.

How much do you need to retire in Malaysia?

Our estimate for a month is about A$2,540 for a couple in Penang and A$1,750 for one person, rent included, before health insurance. Kuala Lumpur comes to about A$3,190 for a couple. MM2H Silver adds the deposit, a home of RM600,000 (about A$214,000) or more, and fees.

What are the MM2H requirements in 2026?

The official site lists four tiers, from a US$32,000 (about A$46,250) deposit in Johor’s special zone if you are 50 or over to US$1 million (about A$1.4 million) for Platinum. Silver needs US$150,000 (about A$217,000), a home worth RM600,000 (about A$214,000) or more and a minimum age of 25. You apply through a licensed MM2H company, with a police certificate and a medical check-up.

Is Malaysia a good place to retire?

It depends on your health, your money and how long you want to stay. English still dominates trade and industry, the Government of Malaysia says, and our Penang estimate is below the pension’s base rate. Against that, staying past 90 days needs MM2H money, and it is hot and humid all year.

Is it better to retire in Malaysia or Thailand?

Our estimate for a couple is about A$2,540 a month in Penang and A$2,790 in Chiang Mai. Malaysia gives you 90 days on arrival, Thailand 30. Thailand’s retirement visas start at 50 and need no home purchase, while MM2H needs a large deposit and a home. See our Thailand page to compare.

Can foreigners buy property in Malaysia?

Yes, with the state’s approval and above a minimum price. The Ministry of Economy’s guideline sets RM1 million (about A$357,000) a unit at the federal level, though not for MM2H homes. States set their own floors; Penang island’s are RM1 million (about A$357,000) for a flat and RM3 million (about A$1.1 million) for a house, Malay Mail reported. Low-cost homes and Malay reserve land are closed to foreigners.

Can I take my Age Pension to Malaysia?

Yes. It keeps paying, with the 6, 12 and 26-week rules. Malaysia has no social security agreement with Australia, so you claim before you leave.

Is Malaysia safe to retire?

Smartraveller advises normal safety precautions for Malaysia overall, with a higher level only for eastern Sabah. It reports bag snatching, credit card fraud and dangerous roads. Drug laws are severe, and same-sex sexual activity is illegal.