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#1
03-09-2007, 01:37
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50+ retirement - Thailand v Malaysia (Penang) ?
Hi all. The recent visa changes and the general "attitude" in LOS that I read about on these pages has finally made me look at alternatives having been set on Phuket as an early retirement (without property investment) destination. What about Penang as a base and nipping in and out of LOS? The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme looks like the flip side of what's going on in happy land.
Being that I'm a wife-supported mongerer (spiritually rather than financially) what do you think???? Andy Cap 
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#2
03-09-2007, 07:27
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Penang is a nice option, properties there are really going up.
Find a nice place, maybe at the Beach area.
__________________
For every wound, a balm.For every sorrow, cheer.For every storm, a calm.For every thirst, a beer.
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#3
03-09-2007, 08:15
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Lang Kawi is a duty free island and is apparently Falang friendly. Since the Aussies left Butterworth, just across the cause way, georgetown always strikes me as dead.
__________________
That's it- headed for the hills to find a big stick. Back in 4 weeks 
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#4
03-09-2007, 08:24
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There was a case long time ago involving a couple fr the States who decided to call Langkawi their 2nd home, dont know if they ever came back. HaHa.
Anyway i think it's just unlucky for them.
__________________
For every wound, a balm.For every sorrow, cheer.For every storm, a calm.For every thirst, a beer.
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#5
03-09-2007, 10:35
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Certainly the visa aspect is a world apart from Thailand.. They roll out the red carpet.. Own your home (2 IIRC), import a car duty free, 10 year visa's, etc etc etc..
I tend to feel Malaysia is better organised, better run, more transparent. It just seems a bit dull and rising islamist laws would be a thing I would pay attention to.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#7
03-09-2007, 12:18
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One BM is currently planning this, think he went to penang today to do more research. Penang as a base but will be coming here e.g. a week every month.
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#8
03-09-2007, 13:10
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Quote:
Couldn't be as bad as Saudi..... what type of Islamist laws are we talking about? AC Last edited by capdagde : 03-09-2007 at 13:35.
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#9
03-09-2007, 15:07
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Quote:
Cap, i'm thinking the same as you. Started 2 years ago to invest in Thailand, saw the aged 50 Geeza Visa status and was planning my retirement , cheap golf , beer and girls ..... currently its not looking as easy anymore. Maybe it will cycle back in a few years ? Malaysia visa is much better, got a 90day just to go to Qatar Air office in the airport and change my tickets... left 5 hours later. So yes i'm thinking of having a better look later this year. However , this Islamic identity thing is taking over ALL the muslim countries.... seen it here in Libya, 4 years ago hardly any girls wore scarfs, guys clean shaved.... now 99% of girls are wrapped up like mummies and you see a lot of the 'beardos' around.... something is brewing, this secular to religious momentum is not a good sign if your an infidel. check out Sharia Law .... and be scared. H3X
__________________
 ...Everyone hears the farang scream in Kamalalala 
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#10
03-09-2007, 17:50
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Ain't gonna be much P4P around then - will import from Thailand. Maybe it's best not to take residency at all. It's just a question of juggling time in various countries so as not to be based anywhere. Need a list of long-term accommodation apartments (like Nanai Road places in Phuket) and just shuttle between them. Might shuttle LOS to Penang to Cambodia/Vietnam I thought.... then the odd visit back to France to check out the kids and the property empire..
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#11
03-09-2007, 20:12
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Hmmmmm I think Thailand offers better massages compared to Malasia...
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#12
03-09-2007, 22:29
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In malaysia they put the citizen's religion on their ID card. If you were born as a Muslim they will not let you change it. This heavily conflicts with the idea they promote of many cultures and religions living together harmoniously. I've read that many of the richer ethnic Chinese and Indians are transferring assets outside the country and relocate when possible. On paper I would move to Malaysia in a second. I think the reality doesn't pan out.
__________________
Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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#13
04-09-2007, 00:43
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Quote:
Thanks for that ATM, I guess it'll be "suck it and see" (555!), whatever happens I won't be getting into property so no ties there. Not born a Muslim although I'll have to hypocritise if they insist on me being a Christian...... Andy Cap
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#14
04-09-2007, 07:39
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I dont think the Islamic rules will affect Expats much unless they did something really wrong. Many nice expats areas.
Many Chinese and Indians are living the country, including me very soon. All the harmony you read about is just crap.
__________________
For every wound, a balm.For every sorrow, cheer.For every storm, a calm.For every thirst, a beer.
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#15
04-09-2007, 07:52
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how about P4P in KL......was reasonably healthy last time I was in town.....is it dwindling or growing these days???
probably a good indicator
__________________
 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#16
04-09-2007, 07:59
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P4P is still hot in certain areas like Beach Club in KL.
Lots of SPAs also.
__________________
For every wound, a balm.For every sorrow, cheer.For every storm, a calm.For every thirst, a beer.
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#18
04-09-2007, 15:51
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Damm, dont remind me of the SIN TAX !!!!!!!!!!!!
It didnt go up much last year, cigarettes already gone up. But if you're staying in Penang, weekly trips to Phuket, you dont have to drink in Penang.
__________________
For every wound, a balm.For every sorrow, cheer.For every storm, a calm.For every thirst, a beer.
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#19
04-09-2007, 16:04
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Oh well, that seals it then ! Andy Cap
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#20
04-09-2007, 16:19
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For the sake of conversion, one mug beer in KL now is still cheaper or more or less than a bottle of Singha in Bangla. 5555555
A pint of Guinness is more or less the same as what you pay in Patong. Molly Malones is still cheaper than Finnegans. Cigarettes is stil much cheaper in Thailand. It's MYR 8.20 per packet now.
__________________
For every wound, a balm.For every sorrow, cheer.For every storm, a calm.For every thirst, a beer. Last edited by Nautilus : 04-09-2007 at 16:36.
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#21
04-09-2007, 17:24
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On the move
Andy if you are going to bounce in and out of Thailand on a regular basis Penang would be OK but maybe a bit tame for you.It is a large island any I am sure you could turn up a comfortable pad there to rent.
 Visa issues won't be a problem if you are being a nomadic ping pong ball. 
__________________
 If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined up!!! 
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#22
04-09-2007, 17:46
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Cheers Crusty - we will be able to plan the rest of my life over a few Kilkennies for 10 days from about 15th Oct ! It's a matter of making sure the distances aren't so long so that the (low-cost) airfares balance out the accommodation/travel budget. Yep, that just about makes sense... Andy
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#23
15-09-2007, 05:38
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Sounds like the visa rules are much more fsvorable than those of Thailand at present, but I would be concerned about the far more expensive cost of living in Malaysia. In thailand the cost of living is still much cheaper, even more so if you get out of Phuket, and as they are further behind in economic development prices should still stay much cheaper over the foreseeable future. Malaysia is much further Westernised than thailand and that equates to increased taxes, and much higher costs of living, they are basically following the singapore model.
I realise this will also happen in thailand, but they are still a long way further behind. My other concern is about the fun police. I am not concerned that it is a muslim country as they are presently and have always beeen a stable country, but with increased muslim furver around the world I would be concerned that the will gradually bring in more restrictions to they way of life to try and reduce temptation to the population.
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#25
16-09-2007, 18:53
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