About ICCB Host City Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is full of historic monuments, skyscrapers, lush parks, bustling street markets, and megasized shopping malls located in the Central Region of West Malaysia, a megadiverse country. While Kuala Lumpur is best known for its skyscrapers such as Petronas Towers and it's shopping, it's also less than an hour from natural areas like the famous Batu Caves and Kuala Selangor, known for its fireflies. The conference venue is located in Kuala Lumpur City Centre, the heart of Kuala Lumpur, and is directly next to KLCC park, which holds 1900 indigenous trees and 66 species of palms deliberately selected to attract local and migratory birds
Comprised of West Malaysia and East Malaysia, Malaysia is a country known for its biodiversity. Its hot and humid climate makes it rich in tropical wildlife including the Malayan tiger, Bornean orangutan, and Asian elephant. Malaysia's waters also hold a variety of species such as the leatherback sea turtle. dugongs, and whale sharks.
Malaysia is home to about 20% of the world's animal species, including as many as 500 endemic species of animals. This biodiversity, however, faces many challenges due to Malaysia's growing population. Deforestation for housing and palm oil plantations, air pollution, illegal fishing and marine habitat destruction, and illegal hunting all threaten many of Malaysia's species. Over 30 million people reside in this dynamic environment, from the skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur to the hills and riversides that many indigenous people call home, and all are affected by the fate of the biodiversity of Malaysia.
Weather in Kuala Lumpur
July is considered part of the dry season in Kuala Lumpur with a mostly overcast sky and constant high temperatures during the day (99°F/32°C) and lower temperatures during the night (74°F/23°C). Despite July being part of the dry season, the chance of rain is essentially constant and is about 34% each day. Kuala Lumpur is also very muggy, with the change of a muggy day essentially constant, remaining at around 100% throughout. More information on the weather in Kuala Lumpur in July can be found here.
Stay dry and hydrated!
Other useful traveling tips for Kuala Lumpur (e.g. exchange rate, emergency number (123), embassies) can be found on the official Kuala Lumpur Traveling Guide.
Safety in Malaysia
While Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur are relatively safe to travel to, it's still important to keep safety in mind. Here are some important safety tips about traveling in Kuala Lumpur and the rest of Malaysia:
- Violent crime isn't common in Kuala Lumpur, but pickpocketing and bag snatching is, including by thieves on moterbikes. Carry your bags on the side towards the pavement rather than the road to try and avoid being targeted by thieves on vehicles. Don't strap your bag over the shoulder as victims have been injured or killed being pulled to the ground by their bag straps. Don't carry your passport in a bag that could be snatched.
- Credit and debit card fraud have been a growing issue in Malaysia. Only use your card in reputable shops and be careful when others handle your card during payment processing.
- Make sure you only use registered taxis while traveling around Kuala Lumpur. See here for more details about taxis.
- Don't wear excessive jewlery- this can attract snatchers.
- Don't leave your passports or valuables unattended at any time, even in your hotel room. There have been instances of passports and other valuables being snatched from within hotel rooms.
- It is recommended to wear clothes that are relatively modest, with long sleeves and long pants. Malaysia is a Muslim majority country, and you may be refused entry to some places, such as mosques, if you are not dressed modestly.
- Kuala Lumpur and the rest of Malaysia is relatively safe for women traveling alone, but it is recommended that women avoid isolated locations or traveling alone after dark.
- Overall, Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur are considered relatively safe places to travel to, and taking normal safety precautions and exercising common sense should keep you safe in a majority of instances.
Staying healthy in Malaysia
While traveling to Kuala Lumpur and the rest of Malaysia is not overly dangerous, there are some important health tips to follow to avoid getting ill:
- Malaysia is very hot and humid, so drink plenty of water and try to avoid strenous activity in the midday sun. It's best to avoid drinking tap water, so ask for bottled water when possible.
- Make sure to bring sunscreen and DEET spray.
- Travellers diarrhea is common when going to Kuala Lumpur, so it is recommended to bring antibiotics or similar medication in case you need them.
- If you plan on hiking outside Kuala Lumpur, particually in the jungle, you should check with your doctor to see if you need malaria tablets. Make sure to bring DEET spray to keep insects away as well.
- From June to October, areas around Kuala Lumpur conduct slash and burn operations on their farmland. This will result in smoke covering the city of Kuala Lumpur, although daily smoke amount can vary. If you have respiratory issues, check with your doctor to see how best to prepare for this.
- Consult your doctor for what vaccines are recommended or required for travel from your country to Malaysia. It is generally recommended for you to have diptheria and tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, MMR, Polio, Typhoid, and Varicella vaccines to travel to Kuala Lumpur, but you should check with your doctor to see if additional vaccines are needed.