Communication in Malaysia

Telephone numbers

The country code for Malaysia is 60.

Landlines

Malaysian landline telephone numbers have either seven or eight digits. The country is also divided up into areas which have been assigned two or three digit area codes, which have to be dialled when calling from outside the area. The area codes are:

* 03 - Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor
* 04 - Kedah, Penang, Perlis
* 05 - Perak
* 06 - Malacca, Muar district of Johor, Negeri Sembilan
* 07 - Johor (all districts except for Muar)
* 082 - Sarawak (Kuching and Samarahan districts)
* 083 - Sarawak (Sri Aman and Betong districts)
* 084 - Sarawak (Sarikei, Sibu and west Kapit districts)
* 085 - Sarawak (Miri and Limbang districts)
* 086 - Sarawak (Bintulu districts and Belaga)
* 087 - Sabah (Interior Division)
* 088 - Sabah (West Coast and Kudat Division)
* 089 - Sabah (Sandakan and Tawau Division)
* 09 - Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu

Area code 02 has been assigned for calls made from Malaysia to Singapore. This means there's no need to call Singapore's country code 65 when calling from Malaysia. International direct dialing (IDD) calls from landlines to all other countries should use the prefix 00 followed by the country code.

To call a Malaysian number:

* From overseas dial the international access code, the country code for Malaysia, the area code without the "0", and then the phone number.

* From outside the local area dial the full area code, followed by the phone number. There are no exceptions to this rule, except when using a mobile phone.

* From within the local area just dial the phone number without any code.

Mobile phones

Malaysia also has four mobile telephone service providers, Maxis, DiGi, Celcom, and U Mobilewhich utilise codes 012, 013, 014, 016, 017, 018, 019. The mobile number portability policy already implemented in Kuala Lumpur. Mobile networks utilize the GSM 900 and 1800 systems. 3G ( WDMA ), EDGE & HSPDA networks available in large town. International roaming onto these networks is possible if your operator allows it.

To call a Malaysian mobile number:

* From overseas dial the international access code, the country code for Malaysia, the mobile telephone provider's code without the "0", and then the telephone number.

* From within Malaysia dial the provider's code with the "0", and then the telephone number.

* From mobile phone to mobile phone within Malaysia dial the provider's code with the "0", and then the telephone number. Although you can drop the provider's code if the two phones share the same provider, you will still get through if the provider's code is dialled.

To call from Malaysia to another country:

* From a landline dial the international access code "00" followed by the country code and the phone number. For example, dialing the United States from Malaysia you would dial 001 followed by the US area code and phone number.

* From a mobile phone same as from a landline (above). An alternative, and simpler, approach on many mobile phones is to press & hold the zero button to enter a "+" (plus sign) before the country code and phone number. The "+" represents (in any country) the appropriate international access code.