Both Singapore and Malaysia are picturesque and awe-worthy travel destinations. However, if you must choose between the two, this article will give you all the insights into the pros and cons of Singapore vs Malaysia.
Each location offers a unique selection of tourism activities and atmospheres. Therefore, depending on what you imagine your perfect holiday to be, you may want to opt for one rather than the other. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Singapore Vs Malaysia. Here we will touch upon everything from landscape, climate, the best things to do, and the crucial travel tips you need for both destinations.
The differences between Singapore Vs Malaysia
One of the most striking differences between these two beloved travel destinations is the stunning landscapes. Singapore is known for its limitless skyscrapers, while outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s beauty lies in its natural wonder.
Where is Singapore?
Map of Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country in South east Asia. It is located north of the equator on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore borders the Strait of Malacca to the west, Singapore Strait to the South, The South China Sea to the East, and the Straits of Johor to the North. It is nestled between the counties of Indonesia and Malaysia and forms the shape of an island with its amalgamation of many islands. The Diamond-shaped Singapore Island is surrounded by 60 small islets. Jurong and Sentosa are Singapore’s most popular islands and boast an impressive skyline. The occupied island takes up 18 square miles of combined area. Some people worry that they may not be able to afford Singapore due to its position as a world class tourist attraction, however with such a vast selection, you will be able to find affordable options.
Where is Malaysia?
Malaysia is in South-eastern Asia, partly on the Malay Peninsula south of Thailand and on the northern one-third of the island of Borneo. It borders Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam and the South China Sea. Malaysia is separated into two major parts comprising East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia in the west. Peninsular Malaysia has impressive mountains surrounded by picturesque plains. The whole country is known for its shimmering and pristine beaches. Malaysia was established on the 16th of September 1963 and is a Member of the Commonwealth. Get answers to the Peninsular Malaysia Faq. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and offers mass rapid transit, light rail transit options and landmarks beloved by any Australia destination expert.
All about Singapore
The mega city of Singapore is easy to reach with Qatar Airways or one of the many other airlines that service the large city. Singapore is the largest and one of the busiest ports in Southeast Asia. Its growth and prosperity are thanks to its strategic location on the extremity of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore used to be a British Colony and now is a member of the Commonwealth. In 1963, Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia but was ceded to become an independent state on August 9th, 1965. Ask any Singapore destination expert or any destination forums that will tell you that Singapore supposedly is the place to be. Most passport holders do not need to worry about getting a visa, or paying a visa fee. However it is a good idea to check on their website before hand.
What is nature like in Singapore?
Due to built-up nature of Singapore, little remains of the original vegetation or animal life. There are a few thousand acres of evergreen rainforest preserved around rain catchment areas. Near the area of Kranjion the northwest of the island, some of the mangrove vegetation remains along with tracts of scrub or cogon grass. Many exotic plants have been introduced for visual and ornamental purposes around the islands.
In terms of wildlife, the largest native animals are the long-tailed macaque, the slow loris, and the scaly anteater. There is a large variety of colorful bird species including the Indian Mynah Bird, the Brahminy Kity, and the house Swallow. There are also many reptiles on the islands including lizards and some cobras. The ocean around Singapore is thriving and is the home to many fish and other marine species. There are extensive fringing coral reefs surrounding extensive parts of the coastline.
The people of Singapore
Singapore has a diverse population that settled on the islands due to its central location in many trading routes. There has been considerable immigration to the region with Chinese making up three-fourths of the current population. Malays and Indians are the second and third largest ethnic groups. However, none of these three major communities are homogenous. Among the Chinese, there is a proportion that originates from the Fujian Providence while the others are Teochew from Shantou and others from Guangdong. This means that the Chinese community speaks mutually incomprehensible dialects. Meanwhile, the Malays experience smaller linguistic differences while the Indonesians speak Javanese and Boyanese. The Indian community includes a vast diversity of backgrounds and languages including Tamils, Malayali, and Sikhs.
What is the official language of Singapore?
Singapore, therefore, has more than four official languages including English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. English is the main language used for administration, commerce, and industry. It is also the language used in most schools. One-third of the school population is taught in Mandarin Chinese which remains one of the most popular and relevant languages. Malay is designated as the country’s national language and is frequently used in communication between various ethnic and religious groups.
What is the Religion in Singapore?
Similarly, to the range of ethnicities that call Singapore home, religious affiliations are diverse. Two-thirds of Chinese adhere to Confucianism, Buddhism, or Daoism. Meanwhile, almost all Malays and some Indians follow the Islam Religion. The Christian community has been growing rapidly and is now a similar size to the Muslim population. The remaining populations practice Hinduism while many Singaporeans consider themselves free of religious affiliation.
What is the main Industry in Singapore?
Singapore has been focusing on creating a general policy of export-oriented industrialization. In an attempt to attract foreign investment, the economy was liberalized and incentives put in place including free trade zones. In addition, production was moved away from labor-intensive industries including textiles to high technology activities. These include precision equipment and oil refining providing a higher added value to production. Some people say there is not much charm left in Singapore, but if you read world travels posts you will see the hidden gems in the country.
All about Malaysia
The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur that in itself is a world-class destination. The Kuala Lumpur International airport is one of the largest airports in the world allowing Kuala Lumpur to be the center of south Asia. the Kuala Lumpur International Airport also offers domestic flights with Air Asia to visit Penang or other destinations. In your travels to Malaysia, make sure to set some time aside to visit Kuala Lumpur and its many enormous shopping malls. Both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are considered a mega city with luxury hotels, a national museum, and access to plenty of nearby destinations. Malaysia destination experts can agree that the term ‘ Malaysia honeymoon ‘ is most searched due to the romantic and world class attractions Malaysia has to offer. 10 countries can currently apply for an EVISA to enter Malaysia, check out their website to see your passport status.
What is the Nature in Malaysia?
Malaysia is covered with its characteristic dense evergreen rainforest. More than two-fifths of the peninsula are densely covered in this vegetation while the other parts of Malaysia are under swamp forest. The distinctive vegetation zones change according to the soil type, location, and elevation. There are incredible tidal swamp forests on the coasts, freshwater forests on coastal plains, and lowland rainforests in the foothills of the mountains. Above 2,000 feet the vegetation changes to the cloud forest and provides a stark contrast to the white sandy beaches. The extensive variety of ecosystems means that Malaysia has incredible biodiversity in both flora and fauna. The flora includes several thousand species of plants and 2,000 species of trees. There are also several varieties of carnivorous pitcher plants with as little as one acre of forest housing a minimum of 100 varying species of plants. This incredibly densely vegetated area is now in danger of deforestation to make place for agricultural and commercial purposes.
The vast number of ecosystems naturally is the home to an extraordinary number of animal species. The East of Malaysia is the base of the shrinking habitat of the critically endangered Orangutans, Rhinoceros, sun bears, and proboscis monkeys. These animals are all under threat from changing landscapes and the large live animal trade.