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> And yet alcohol is totally fine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ since this is Malaysia it needs a disclaimer: "except for Muslims" I would also not drink in certain places like K

> And yet alcohol is totally fine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ since this is Malaysia it needs a disclaimer: "except for Muslims" I would also not drink in certain places like Kelantan and Terengganu[1] even as a non-Muslim otherwise the locals might get really upset :) One colleague got caught carrying weed into KL int airport from NZ (< 3gramm) in '97 for personal consumption (the idiot). He was supposed to go offshore with us (work on oil-rigs). Instead he spent 5 nights in prison. Our office (a large US diving company) sent their local lawyer to pay a bribe and get him back to work. It was a minor inconvenience that could have ended really badly. If you ever get yourself arrested in such a country make sure to contact a lawyer. Avoid contacting your embassy as the first step (which often escalates situations in ways the country is supposed to "act tough".) Better yet don't smuggle drugs (even if it's just weed) [1] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/liquor-control-bill-how-other-countries-and-cities-in-asia-tackle-drinking https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/liquor-control-bill-h... which reads: > Muslims are barred from drinking alcohol. Non-Muslims do not face any curbs but some local governments discourage the sale of alcohol in neighbourhoods that are predominantly Muslim. In the states of Kelantan and Terengganu, alcohol bans are enforced in places like hotels, but non-Muslim establishments like Chinese restaurants and sundry shops are pretty much left alone.

BelenusMordred 6y ago
> alcohol bans are enforced in places like hotels Kelantan has some crazy rules but you can definitely drink to excess in a tourist hotel or on the islands without any concern. The Perhentians is certainly not a pious place of purity, it gets fairly loose there. > If you ever get yourself arrested in such a country make sure to contact a lawyer. Not getting arrested in the first place is what you should really be doing. In basically all of South-East Asia on-the-spot fines are routine and expected. If you don't go that route and it hits the books you are in for a world of trouble and no amount of coffee money will save you. Not endorsing this, simply saying that's how it works.
- ValentineC 6y ago
  > In basically all of South-East Asia on-the-spot fines are routine and expected. If you don't go that route and it hits the books you are in for a world of trouble and no amount of coffee money will save you. Except in Singapore. Don't bribe the cops in Singapore — the police and other law enforcement officials are paid a very decent wage here [1], and they'll just report you to save their own skin. [1] https://www.police.gov.sg/Join-SPF/Police-Officer/Direct-Entry-Sergeant https://www.police.gov.sg/Join-SPF/Police-Officer/Direct-Ent...
  - BelenusMordred 6y ago
    Sinkies are always the exception to the rule in the region. Pretty sure that goes without saying.

BelenusMordred 6y ago

> alcohol bans are enforced in places like hotels Kelantan has some crazy rules but you can definitely drink to excess in a tourist hotel or on the islands without any concern. The Perhentians is certainly not a pious place of purity, it gets fairly loose there. > If you ever get yourself arrested in such a country make sure to contact a lawyer. Not getting arrested in the first place is what you should really be doing. In basically all of South-East Asia on-the-spot fines are routine and expected. If you don't go that route and it hits the books you are in for a world of trouble and no amount of coffee money will save you. Not endorsing this, simply saying that's how it works.

ValentineC 6y ago
> In basically all of South-East Asia on-the-spot fines are routine and expected. If you don't go that route and it hits the books you are in for a world of trouble and no amount of coffee money will save you. Except in Singapore. Don't bribe the cops in Singapore — the police and other law enforcement officials are paid a very decent wage here [1], and they'll just report you to save their own skin. [1] https://www.police.gov.sg/Join-SPF/Police-Officer/Direct-Entry-Sergeant https://www.police.gov.sg/Join-SPF/Police-Officer/Direct-Ent...
- BelenusMordred 6y ago
  Sinkies are always the exception to the rule in the region. Pretty sure that goes without saying.