KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): The expatriate experience in Malaysia is also a sociable one. According to the HSBC Expat Explorer survey, 61% of respondents said they found it easy to make friends in Malaysia.

This is in comparison to the global and regional figures of 53% and 55% respectively, according to the survey which involved more than 27,500 expatriates. HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd announced the survey results in a statement today.

"While Singapore has again been rated by expats as the best country in the world to live and work, Malaysia offers simplicity and smooth transition for expats in finding accommodation (61%), organising healthcare (54%) and arranging childcare and schooling (52%). 

"In fact, once expats settle down, life continues to be positive for most of them, where more than half (55%) live in a better property than they would have had in their home country. This group also have the means to take more holidays and 28% of them have more domestic help, while 18% even say they donate more to charity," HSBC Bank Malaysia said.

Based on the survey findings, expatriates in Malaysia comprise mostly Europeans and those from East Asia, HSBC Bank Malaysia country head for retail banking and wealth management Lim Eng Seong said in the statement.
 
“Malaysia continues to draw expats with Europeans (44%) and Eastern Asians (18%) forming the bulk of expats here, according to this year’s findings. One of the reasons why they love settling down here is the friendly nature of our people. Looking for accommodation, organising healthcare and schooling are all easy to do in Malaysia, hence the plus points for expats to move here,” Lim said.