Posted by
stolen73
19 yrs ago
I’ve been asked to re-locate my family to KL in the coming year. This would be an excellent career opportunity for me, but I have reservations as to how this move would affect my wife and 4 small children (6, 4 ½ , 3, and 7 months). We probably would reside in one of the outlying neighborhoods of KL for 3-4 years. We would send the kids to either ISKL or Mont Kiara. I come from a family of 6 who lived abroad for 5 years. However, I suspect Malaysia will be a bit different than Geneva, Switzerland. What is keeping me from jumping at this opportunity is the fear of the unknown. If I was single or without children I would be up for the adventure, no questions asked.
What neighborhoods are good?
Is it safe?
Is the healthcare sufficient? - I am most concerned about my youngest daughter. She has bad food allergies, eczema, and last year was hospitalized for RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) She will probably develop asthma too.
Sorry for the open ended nature of this post. I welcome any advice, suggestions, or pros/cons on a move like this.
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Mont Kiara & Bangsar is a good place for expats. There are many reputable (international) hospitals in KL, particularly Gleneagles.
People are friendly but do be very aware of the rising crime rate.
Living expenses are generally lower than HK or Shanghai. Food is good!
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Second that - Malaysia is a great place to live in. As for crime - HK is safer, but HK is about the safest place on the planet.
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This will take the form of a question for other expats since I don't live in Malaysia, but here in Guangzhou most expat families with small children can afford a full time helper, even if the wife doesn't work. Is this the case in KL? If so, it's a really nice benefit of being an expat and I see a lot of young families who can have a much better lifestyle than in their home countries! Mom can actually go out by herself once in awhile!
As far as Malaysia per se, the people are lovely, the food is good, travel opportunities abound to get all over SE Asia and see the world, and it gets hot but not unbearable. Being an expat wife myself, I'd say maybe the key issue is your wife and how she feels about it, because she also needs to be outgoing, have a sense of adventure, eagerness, and willingness to roll with the punches. You'll be working 12 hour days (trust me on this one). She'll have to be resourceful to get out, make friends, learn the language, and find new ways of doing everything (including finding food!)
Another issue is to make sure you can get excllent medical care -- no expat assignment is worth the life of your child. Establish a relationship with a doctor in KL and talk with them about worst case scenarios -- what if your child needed a pediatric pulmonologist, for example, is there one in KL? What would be the cost of evacuation to HK or to Bangkok, if needed? Those kinds of hard questions. And here in GZ, recently an insurance co took a week to approve a medical evacuation, a week which may or may not have been critical. It would be best if you could find the level of health care you might need right there.
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I am from KL and I can tell you KL has everything that you asked for! Health care is excellent and much cheaper than in HK. I go home to do all my dentist visit, health check etc... You can easily own a car or two, drive around town easily with highways access to everywhere in Malaysia, north south highway to Thailand and down to singapore in less than 5 hours! People are friendly. You will really enjoy the 'open house' with so much food and laugther on Chinese New Year, Malay Hari Raya, Indian Depavali, Christmas and any other day that party is going in the neighbourhood. you can affort maid like paying much lesser than in HK. Oh, food is sooo gooood and cheeeep! The two schools you mentioned are very good as well as Garden International school. Yes, it is hot and humid but much better than the summer in HK, that is why i go home during summer here to escape the wet, rain and heat! Language? Most of us speak english. Contonese is widely speaking in KL and Ipoh. Bahasa Malaysia is e.c to learn, much e.c than Cantonese. Beaches are clean and beautiful and mountains/hills like Cameron Highland, Fraser Hill, Genting Highland are cool and nice. what else? which part of KL are you going to stay? Yes, it is not as safe there as docboat put it:HK is the safest place on the planet! Cons are: you need a car to move around as public transport is not as good and efficient like in HK. (2). No winter unless you go to the mountain/hill/highland.
All in all, no worry to stay in Malaysia. If my husband agrees to reside in KL, I will pack to go home now and now!!
Cheers!
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Thanks to all for the very thoughtful responses. We are not sure where we would live. My assignment is still a year out and my wife and I would like to visit before making a final decision.
Thanks again for providin much appreciated insight and advice.
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HKC
19 yrs ago
We lived in KL for 18 months and LOVED it! We lived in Mont Kiara which is great for children. I honestly think you will have a great time there.
Hospitals are great particulary Gleneagles. You will need a car but if you don't get one then taxis are dirt cheap and usually hang around Mont Kiara for pick ups, oh I wish we were back there now. Good luck
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Yes, HKC, I cannot imagine how cheap taxi fare is comparet to HK! And Mont Kiara, oh, how i miss Soleout Restaurant. I live near the Curve/Ikano, 1 Utama area, gosh, how i miss home!
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HKC
19 yrs ago
Souled out was my favourite restaurant and all our visitors loved it there as well! 1 Utama was my joint favourite shopping mall along with Mid Valley.
You are right the summers in Hong Kong seem much more humid and hotter than Malaysia. I only have fond memories of KL and particulary Mont Kiara, we still have friends living there so we do get a chance to go back. It's just so much relaxed and friendly than HK and my husband said he felt like he was on holiday every weekend
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It would help to know where you are starting from too. Where do you live now?
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My family currently lives in the suburbs of Washington, DC (USA).
Our main concern at this point is the health of our children. Our youngest (7 months) has allergy and respitory problems. I recently read an article about "Malaysian haze" that affected KL in '05. Is this a yearly occurence. I understand that the smoke is from slash/burn agg. in neighboring Indonesia.
It seems like general healthcare is adequte in KL, but I'm not sure if there are plenteful pediatric allergists. Even if we do find the right Dr. I'm just not sure if the environment (heat,haze,ect.) would be good for her.
My wife is also concerned with misquito borne disease, such as Dengue Fever. Is this prevelant in KL?
We know that our kids could get sick anywhere. Even in Virginia we hear about West Nile virus occasionally. My concern, as a husband who will proably be working long hours, is that my wife will be so far away from what we know and the support network of family and friends.
Thanks for all the advice and insight. It's just nice to hear from people that are not new to the expat thing.
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HKC
19 yrs ago
Hi Stolen 73, in regard to the haze, when we were there 5 years ago is wasn't an issue but last October we were there and there was terrible haze which lasted for about 2 weeks, my husband has asthma and didn't get any problems with it but I think it's probably worth asking an expert at home about your child before you make the move.
I know my friends are particulary happy with a peadiatric Dr at Gleneagles, I will ask the name for you. There are also GP practices in and around Mont Kiara
If you do live in Mont Kiare you are away from the city where the worst of the haze seems to settle.
Dengue fever is an issue in KL but not a huge one and I didn't get any mozzie bites when I was there, get loads in Hong Kong though.
I really think its best to take a trip and have a loook at Mont Kiara and see if it suits your family
As for a support network of friends it will be easy to make friends in Mont Kiara, I made lots from just going to the pool and if you have kids it will be easier. Most people are ex pats and in the same boat so understand how you feel and you can koin lots of Ex pat associations to make friends as well.
Good luck with the move if you decide on one!
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HKC
19 yrs ago
Hi found out the name of the Peadatrian, who is Dr Vernon Lee at Gleneagles, he comes highly recommended.
I would love to be back in KL now I have a 2 year old!
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HKC- Thanks so much for the referal!
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