• Borneo is the third-largest island in the world, is shared by three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Often referred to as the ‘lungs of Mother Earth,’ Borneo’s vast tropical rainforests play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, which are vital for the planet’s health.
• Sarawak being part of Malaysia is located on the island of Borneo. It is relatively safe from severe natural disasters as it lies outside of the volcanic ring of fire and global tropical cyclone tracks.  

Sarawak has tropical climate with average of temperature range from 24 °C to 34°C. The mean annual rainfall in Sarawak is 120 inches (3,050 mm) or more per year. Raining season starts from November to March every year. There is no extreme weather such as summer and winter like in temperate countries.

Sarawak is home to 27 ethnic groups and 45 different languages, reflecting its rich cultural diversity. The official languages are English and Malay, while Mandarin is also widely spoken, especially in urban areas. Most Sarawakians are multilingual, with many able to speak two or more languages fluently. 

Sarawak celebrates a wide variety of events and festivals throughout the year, reflecting its rich cultural diversity. These include not only local celebrations such as Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and Chinese New Year, but also international festivals like the Rainforest World Music Festival and Borneo International Kite Festival, just to mention a few. These vibrant events bring communities and visitors together, showcasing Sarawak’s unique traditions, music, food, and heritage on a global stage.

Year 2021, is recognised as the Unesco Creativey City of Gastronomy, the 1st city in Malaysia to join 36 other countries in the world to be recognised under the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) for its food heritage and diversity!

Food Photos

• Sarawak Layered Cake
• Sarawak Laksa
• Kolo Mee
• Ayam Pansuh (Bamboo Chicken)
• Umai (sliced raw seafood salad)
• Midin (Jungle Fern)

Other than that, in Sarawak you can also find variety of cuisines, including Western, Asian, and Middle Eastern dishes.

Sarawak is the home of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, over 130 million years. There are 47 national parks, 15 nature reserves, and 5 wildlife conservation centers in Sarawak (a total of 67 reserves)

Under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, Sarawak biodiversity are well preserved and conserved to ensure sustainability of the natural ecological development.

• Sarawak is the main producer of natural gas in Malaysia (61%). 
• It has the largest hydroelectricity station (Bakun Dam) in Malaysia and also the second largest in the world. Size of Bakun Dam is equivalent to the entire territory of Singapore. 
• Sarawak is endowed with abundant natural resources, including oil and gas, timber, marine life, hydropower potential, and fertile agricultural land, with many more resources yet to be explored.
• By 2030, Sarawak aims to build a prosperous, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable society led by data and innovation, by focusing on renewable energy, decarbonisation, and integrated infrastructure development. The strategy emphasizes a major energy transition centered on hydropower, solar, and hydrogen along with policy reforms and regional partnerships to transform Sarawak into a renewable energy powerhouse in ASEAN, while actively reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. This vision is operationalized under the Post-COVID Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which anchored on 3 pillars: economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. 

Sarawak’s ability to consistently host international tourism events, cultural festivals, and global business conferences is a strong testament to its safety and security. Each year, Sarawak welcomes millions of visitors from around the world, drawn by its rich heritage, natural beauty, and vibrant events calendar. The successful organization of major gatherings from international music festivals to world-class business summits, would not be possible without a stable, secure, and well-managed environment. 

James Wong (2024), Sarawak Tribune reported that according to International Living Magazine, Kuching is recognized as one of the most affordable cities to retire globally. Couples can comfortably live on approximately $1,500 (around RM7,000) per month. A three-bedroom house near the river can be rented for about $700 per month, with additional living expenses totaling around $500.

Malaysia operates on a territorial tax system, meaning that only income earned within Malaysia is subject to tax. Historically, Malaysia grants tax exemption on foreign-sourced funds, including remittance of offshore pensions, rental income, dividends, salaries, and etc.

A key first step in asset relocation is opening a bank account in the new location. Asset relocation is not always about avoiding taxes or hiding wealth, although historically, some individuals have used it for those purposes. Today, the primary focus of asset relocation is to protect, diversify, and grow wealth safely. In unstable countries, where banking systems can freeze accounts, impose capital controls, or even confiscate assets, relocating assets becomes a crucial strategy. Inflation, as seen in countries can rapidly erode local savings, making it essential for individuals to preserve their net worth in stronger, more stable economies. Keeping all wealth concentrated in a single country presents significant risks. By relocating assets, individuals can spread their risk across multiple jurisdictions, legal systems, and economies. This approach acts as a form of “geographical diversification,” similar to the principle of not putting all your eggs in one basket. Additionally, asset relocation enables individuals and businesses to expand their footprints globally, tapping into new markets, opportunities, and safer environments for long-term growth.

Public transportation options in Kuching are limited. However, ride-sharing services like Grab and Maxim are available, and renting a car is recommended for convenience. For long-term stays, it is highly recommended to purchase a car and apply for or convert your home country driving license to a Malaysian driving license. 

Sarawak has marked a significant milestone in the health sector, particularly in cardiology, after the Sarawak Heart Centre secured a place among the top 100 cardiology hospitals in the Asia Pacific region, as recognised by Newsweek Magazine in 2023. Among all public hospitals, only Sarawak’s has been recognised in the top 100 in Asia Pacific, proving the state’s capability to provide premier healthcare services, reported by New Straits Times (2024). 

Normah Medical Specialist Centre (NMSC) was awarded the The BrandLaureate SMEs Best Brand Award 2019 in the category of “Most Established Brand Award for Best Brand in Healthcare (Private Specialist Centre)” by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation. The award is a recognition of NMSC’s success and branding efforts, according to the Borneo Post (2019). Besides, Normah Medical Specialist Centre received the ‘Malaysian Healthcare Icon Leadership Award,’ marking it as the first private hospital from East Malaysia to achieve this recognition reported by Borneo Post (2023). 

Sarawak’s healthcare system is characterized by its robust infrastructure, skilled professionals, and continuous pursuit of excellence. Both public and private entities demonstrate the state’s commitment to providing reliable and high-quality medical services to its residents and beyond.

Sarawak has been steadily developing its education sector, including a growing number of private and international schools. Our school adopts the world’s most popular international qualification for secondary education known as the International General Certificate in Secondary Education (IGCSE), assessment by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). The curriculum consist of practical knowledge and grasping the 21st century skill set. 

Malaysia’s Chinese Independent Middle Schools are private secondary schools that primarily use Mandarin as the medium of instruction. Existing outside the national education system, they are self-funded and governed by their own boards, though most also teach Bahasa Malaysia and English. These schools trace their origins back to the pre-independence era, when Chinese immigrants established them to preserve their language and culture. After Malaysia gained independence in 1957, while some Chinese schools chose to integrate into the national system, a number opted to maintain full Chinese-medium education, giving rise to today’s independent schools.

The curriculum in these schools is centered on the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), developed and managed by the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong). UEC qualifications are internationally recognized by universities across countries like Taiwan, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Many Chinese Independent Schools also offer national examinations like SPM alongside UEC to widen their students’ options.

Uniquely, Malaysia has preserved the most complete Chinese-medium education system outside of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, offering a continuous education pathway in Chinese from primary to tertiary levels. Students who have lived in Malaysia for more than five years can be recognized as overseas Chinese students (华侨生) and are eligible to return to China to sit for the Chinese university entrance exam (Gaokao) under a special overseas Chinese student quota. This pathway offers them greater opportunities to enter prestigious Chinese universities with less intense competition compared to domestic students, providing a significant advantage for those aiming for further studies in China.

Sarawak has developed a strong network of higher education institutions, catering to local and international students. There are a mix of public universities, private universities across Sarawak.

The Sarawak government has its own land laws (Sarawak Land Code Ordinance), meaning land ownership, foreign property purchase, and native land rights are governed slightly differently than other part of Malaysia. The general rule in relation to foreign acquisition of property in Sarawak is that non-Malaysian citizens and foreign companies are only allowed to buy properties in Sarawak provided that they comply with certain requirements and restrictions imposed by the Guidelines on the Acquisition of Properties issued by the Economic Planning Unit and the Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81) including the relevant rules and regulations that may be imposed by the State Authority.

Generally, foreigners are not allowed to acquire the following in Sarawak:

• Residential properties under the category of low-cost and low-cost plus as determined by the State Authority
• Lands categorized as or Properties built on Native Area Land in Sarawak (whereby only native of Sarawak is entitled to acquire)
• Properties reserved for sale to bumiputera only in any property development project as determined by the State Authority (whereby only native of Sarawak is entitled to acquire)
• Vacant Lands without building
• Landed Commercial Properties 

A foreign person, foreign company, foreign corporation or other foreign body may acquire an estate, interest or right in the following:

1. Any land within Special Development (Exemption from Prohibition of Foreign Interests) Area;
2. Any of the individual parcels within a building which has been sub-divided pursuant to the Strata Titles Ordinance 1995; and 
3. Any land with a building thereon for residential purpose and the market value of such land and building is not less than such amount as may be determined by the Minister by a direction published in the Gazette*.

A foreigner can acquire landed residential property which is still under construction (“a landed residential property under construction”) provided the following criteria are satisfied: – 

1. The State Planning Authority (SPA) has approved that the said property is for residential purpose;
2. The foreigner is the sole purchaser of the said property;
3. The market value thereof is not less than RM600,000-00 in Kuching division and RM500,000-00 in other divisions in Sarawak. 

The acquisition of both commercial and residential strata title properties in Sarawak by foreigners is not subject to any requirement of minimum market value and can be bought by the foreigners without any restrictions imposed as highlighted earlier.

DISCLAIMER: THE CONTENTS HEREIN ARE INTENDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. SHOULD YOU HAVE FURTHER QUERIES, KINDLY CONTACT US.