Best VPNs for Malaysia

If we took a step backwards to generalize, and assume that one of the touristic slogans of Malaysia is true (Malaysia, truly Asia), then we would come to a depiction that is surprisingly close to how internet freedom is “truly like” in Asia. A lot of countries seek a more controlled online environment, where control is practiced by the governing body. Moreover, this control partially stems from the perceived customs of the given country and regulations are made based on those assumptions. This is true for Malaysia, too; there are certain elements of culture and society that the government deems unsuitable as online content and thus, conditions in Malaysia can represent the “average” internet freedom in Asia. Of course, there are individual traits of using a Malaysian IP address. While the official religion is Islam, others are also permitted. Tourism is also a strong side of the country; expect quality service from such websites.

Malaysia’s internet falls under the responsibility of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It is important to state here that this organization has the power to monitor online activities. Therefore, for at least this reason alone, we recommend you using a VPN service to access the Malaysian internet. A VPN network encrypts your online traffic, hiding you from plain sight. The MCMC’s capability to monitor combined with the fact that otherwise, there is not that much censorship still puts some strain on the public. The most notable incident was the Malaysia Internet Blackout Day in 2012. A series of protests happened against Section 114A of the Evidence Act 1950 that would have amended the previous version of the law. Anybody who creates content on a Malaysian address – this includes simply posing a comment – would have been deemed liable for it. This runs into a great problem, as the law would not have considered cases where an account was stolen, or just used by someone else, for example. A simple prank could have led to dire consequences, and protests erupted with success.

Censorship, in legal terms, does not particularly exist in Malaysia. However, there are other forms of online regulation present. For example, simply removing content (or the author) is a method used. In 2012, a Saudi journalist – Hamza Kashgari – was deported from the country after making posting a Tweet considered to be insulting Islam. A lot of political websites are blocked altogether. Again, we emphasize: they are not censored (in other words, modified) – they are blocked altogether. Malaysia is a multi-cultural country and therefore the state registers blogs and promotes avoiding disorder. Thus, self-censorship is a phenomenon in the country.

The most prominent participant of the Malaysian online music market is Spotify. Guevra is another more rare sight, but Google Play Music is never seen – the service is not available in the country. Other music streamers that exclude Malaysia include Pandora, iHeart Radio and Napster. However, you can find Apple Music or SoundCloud on the list, though both are selective about the music they make available (and so is Spotify). For television, movies and other media, Netflix is not available. Instead, the country has its own solution, called iflix.

Though Malaysian internet has few instances of censorship, blocks and monitoring activities prevail. Therefore we would like to present three VPN providers that not only keep you safe by encryptions, but might also offer additional security and utility features. First, we advise you to read about VyprVPN. One of the top contenders, they are experts of unblocking by multiple means. One of them is their own smart DNS proxy, VyprDNS. When you choose to use their software, you will always be protected by a customized NAT Firewall as well. While VyprVPN is based in Switzerland, Hong Kong’s PureVPN offers a similarly favorable legal background and has secure servers in Malaysia. If you represent a company looking for VPN solutions, this provider is probably one of your best bets with their CorporateVPN package. Top that off with prices as low as $4.16 per month, and you have a good buy. And lastly, ExpressVPN of the British Virgin Islands is – as the name rightfully suggests – one of the fastest on the market today. Though prices are a bit higher, you get good value for your money and a 30-day money back policy to try the service risk-free.