In line with the global effort to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, effective 1 January 2010, travellers entering or leaving Malaysia with cash and/or negotiable bearer instruments (e.g. traveller's cheques, bearer cheques) are required to declare their currency. The forms will be made available at counters located before the Customs Checkpoints at all entry and exit points of Malaysia. 

This is a requirement under section 23 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLATFA) and is in line with the Special Recommendation IX by the Financial Action Task Force which requires countries to have measures in place to detect the physical cross border transportation of cash and negotiable bearer instruments. Travellers could be fined up to RM1 million and/or face imprisonment not exceeding a term of one year if they fail to declare or make a false declaration.

For further information, members of the public can contact the Royal Malaysian Customs Department or Bank Negara Malaysia at the following contact points: 

Royal Malaysian Customs Department

Royal Malaysian Customs Department Headquarters
Tel: 1-800-88-8855/+6 03-8882 4803/+6 03-8882 2929 or 
E-mail: kastam@customs.gov.my/aduan@customs.gov.my 
Website: http://www.customs.gov.my

Bank Negara Malaysia 

BNMTELELINK (Customer Service Call Centre)
Tel: 1-300-88-5465 or 
Website: http://www.bnm.gov.my 

See also:

1. Press release
2. Leaflets [English, PDF 771K] [Bahasa Malaysia, PDF 911K]
3. Sample form - CUSTOMS No. 22 [English, PDF 113K] [Bahasa Malaysia, PDF 114K]