It's hot and sticky all year round in Malaysia with temperatures seldom falling below 20°C (68°F), even at night, and more often than not climbing to 30°C (86°F) or higher during the day. The tropics can take some getting used to, so take it easy when you first get there and keep away from to much activity in the heat of the midday sun. Throughout the area, the humidity tends to linger around the 90% mark, but on the peninsula, you can evade the heat and humidity by retreating to the pleasantly cool hill stations.
The region has a monsoonal type of weather, on the contrary only the east coast of peninsular Malaysia has a genuine rainy season. The wettest time of year on the west coast of the peninsula is between September and December; on the east coast and in Sabah and Sarawak, it is between October and February. Rain normally disrupts the sunshine only for a short time; the majority of it falls in short, strong spurts.
HOLIDAYS
January - New Year's Day
January - Hari Raya Tussa (Islamic New Year)
February - Chinese New Year
March - Prophet's Birthday
May - Labour Day
May - Buddha Purnima/Vesak
June - Ajung's Birthday
August - National Day
October - Hari Raya Puasa (Eid Al Fitr)- National
October / November - Deepavali
December - Hari Raya Haji (Eid Al Adha)
December - Christmas Day
You should know:
Holidays falling on a weekend (Sunday or Friday depending on the state - see below for details) will generally be celebrated on the following day. Also, should two holidays coincide, an extra day may be given immediately after.
There are flower festivals in July (usually 1 week in mid-July) which may disrupt work.
Weekend - In Wilayah Persekutuan, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Sarawak and Sabah: Half day Saturday, full day Sunday
Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu: Half day Thursday, full day Friday
