Arrivals
- Tebedu – 2020-01-10 from Indonesia, 30 min
Smooth border crossing. Carnet, passport and driver’s licence are sufficient to get the International Circulation Permit in Malaysia.
- Kuala Lurah – 2020-01-24 from Brunei, 5 min
Experiences: passports stamped. We still had the ICP and did not ask for a carnet stamp.
- Mengkalap – 2020-01-24 from Brunei, 5 min
Car documents were not asked for. We had our CdP stamped.
- Merapok – 2920-91-24 from Sarawak (Malaysia) to Sabah (Malaysia), 5 min
To our surprise we also needed a passport stamp when we traveled from state Sarawak in Malaysia to state Sabah. The 90-day visa waiver is valid per state, not for the country.
- Merapok -2920-92-06, from Sabah (Malaysia) to Sarawak (Malaysia), 5 min
Smooth crossing. We have to complete a health declaration because of the Corona virus.
- CIQ Pandaruan – 2020-02-06 from Brunei, 5 min.
Experiences: exit from Brunei was smooth; for entry into Malaysia we had to complete a health declaration form because of the Corona virus and our temperature was measured.
- Sungai Tujoh 2022-04-24 from Brunei, 15 min
Immigration was done in a matter of seconds,we got 90 days in Malaysia. We showed the Carnet, nobody asked for the ICP. Malaysian customs spoiled a Carnet page. We had arranged insurance in advance.
Departures
- Sungai Tujoh – 2020-01-23 to Brunei, 15 min
The process was smooth although customs spoiled a Carnet page.
- CIQ Pandaruan – 2020-01-24 from Malaysia, 5 min
Just passports stamped. Car documents not looked at.
- Merapok – 2920-91-24 from Sarawak (Malaysia) to Sabah (Malaysia), 5 min
To our surprise we also needed a passport stamp when we traveled from state Sarawak in Malaysia to state Sabah. The 90-day visa waiver is valid per state, not for the country.
- Merapok -2920-92-06, from Sabah (Malaysia) to Sarawak (Malaysia), 5 min
Smooth crossing. We have to complete a health declaration because of the Corona virus.
- Mengkalap – 2020-02-06 to Brunei, 10 min.
Exit from Malaysia with smooth including exit stamp of CdP.
- Sungai Tujoh – 2020-02-07 to Brunei, 5 min.
Experiences: very smooth border crossing. Only passports stamped.
- Su-Ngai Kolok – 2022-06-14 to Thailand, 30 min
Smooth border crossing, no issues.
Fuel
Fuel: generally available, credit cards accepted.
Insurance
Mandatory, not available at the border with Indonesia. Sold by a few specialized parties (see
4ever2wherever.com).
International Circulation Permit
Officially an International Circulation Permit is required, to drive on Malaysian roads. It is valid for 3 months. We got one when we entered from Indonesia, but it was not available at the border with Brunei or at the Roads Department in Miri. Nobody ever asked for it.
Roads
The entire highway (some 700 km) between Kuching and Miri was under construction in 2020 and still in 2022. Otherwise roads were reasonable to good.
Money
Hotels, fuel stations and larger shops accept credit cards. Not many ATMs. We saw them inside
shopping malls and banks only.
Corruption and crime
No incidents. The country feels very safe.