Kuala Lumpur - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes. - May 2022
Yes. - Aug 2018
Yes, you can absolutely use credit cards. They can be used in the malls, grocery stores, and restaurants. Some smaller shops and food stalls will be cash only. If you try to use your credit card to pay for something online through a Malaysian payment site it will be hit or miss on whether your card will be accepted. I've had success about 70% of the time. ATMs are very common, most people will use the ones in the mall and they are safe to use. If you're working at the embassy, you can cash checks there to get local currency and avoid using ATMs entirely. - May 2018
Yes, it's very easy to use U.S. credit cards. We have had no issues. We use cash a lot as well. - Apr 2017
You can use credit cards in most places, although you will find more places here that are cash only versus back in the UK/US. ATMs are everywhere, but as is good practice everywhere, we tend to use the ones in high visibility places such as the nicer shopping malls, banks, and airport. Some embassies offer check cashing facilities. - Apr 2017
Both are widely available and generally safe to use. There are scams here as there are everywhere. - May 2016
Usually no problem. - Feb 2015
Mostly safe, but be careful about not using them in small shops and look at ATM stand-alone machines carefully. - Aug 2013
Transactions at the mall, hotels, or with the airlines is relatively safe and the fees for these transactions can range from 1-3 MYR. If dealing with private retailers, using credit cards or ATM can be risky. - Aug 2011
Most places accept it readily. Some places only accept cards that have security chips embedded, which U.S. banks generally don't issue, but most places are fine with 'normal' cards. - Mar 2011
At the bigger places it is ok. Some people never use them, but we do all the time for groceries and have not had any problems. - May 2009
Safest to stick to cash but I have used my card at IKEA and other more reputable places. - Mar 2009
Use ATMs and Credit Cards only at major malls and international stores. Cloning is an issue here. - Jul 2008
I use both everywhere and have never had a problem. I should say that I only use the Credit Card at places known to be safe to use them. - May 2008
